Home › Blogs › Caelin Briggs ›

Blog Posts by Caelin Briggs

South Sudan Army Commits Atrocities in Jonglei as Aid Workers Flee
May 14, 2013 Caelin Briggs Africa, South Sudan, Humanitarian Response, Protection & Security, Women & Children

Bor, South Sudan – It has been a dark week in Jonglei State in eastern South Sudan. On Friday night, the last of the humanitarian workers in Pibor town were evacuated by UN helicopter as South Sudanese forces roamed the dusty streets, attacking civilians and looting anything they could carry.

Thousands Are Cut Off From Aid in South Sudan
May 06, 2013 Caelin Briggs Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Humanitarian Response, Protection & Security, Women & Children

Today, Marcy Hersh and I are en route to South Sudan, where we will spend the next three weeks assessing the conditions for displaced people in two of the harshest and most isolated areas of the country. In Jonglei and Unity states, an estimated 180,000 displaced persons are taking shelter in camps, with host families, and hiding in the bush, often with little to no support from the UN or humanitarian agencies.

UN’s New Solution for Congo Not Without Risk
March 28, 2013 Caelin Briggs Africa, DR Congo, Rwanda, Humanitarian Response, Protection & Security

A few minutes ago, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved the creation of an “intervention brigade” within the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).

The resolution passed despite a good deal of skepticism on the part of many Council members, and it’s unclear whether the Council is prepared for the potential humanitarian fallout.

S. Sudan Must Protect Civilians During Pibor Offensive
March 12, 2013 Caelin Briggs Africa, South Sudan, Humanitarian Response, Protection & Security

The South Sudanese army (SPLA) is preparing this week to launch a major military offensive in Jonglei State against rebel leader David Yau Yau. The new operation comes after multiple failed attempts to convince Yau Yau to cease hostilities in the region.

Congo’s Elderly Act As Caregivers – But Who Will Care for Them?
February 21, 2013 Caelin Briggs Africa, DR Congo, Rwanda, Humanitarian Response, Protection & Security, Women & Children

Life in a displaced persons camp is not easy. Even for the strongest of the strong, surviving in an insecure and inhospitable camp is both physically and emotionally grueling. But for the elderly, disabled, or ill, the demands of camp life can seem insurmountable.

These individuals – especially those without family members to support them – are often the most vulnerable, and their needs are often overlooked.