Play for Peace Members Affected by Current Conflict in South Sudan

"We hope you will join us in sending thoughts and prayers for the peaceful resolution of the current conflict in Juba, and for the safety of all members of our Play for Peace community who are affected by this heartbreaking situation.” - Play for Peace Executive Director Sarah Gough

It is far too easy for news of conflict in a distant part of the world to escape our notice. When we connect with others globally, our empathy grows, our attention becomes focused, and the news of something happening so far away becomes more personal and relevant. Our thoughts turn today to members of our Play for Peace community in Juba, South Sudan, who have found themselves in the middle of violent conflict. According to news reports, last Thursday, a skirmish between forces loyal to South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, a former rebel leader, erupted into wide-scale violence that many fear could lead to civil war. The situation is precarious since South Sudan has just begun to recover from years of violent conflict.

During the past few days, we have heard reports of the Juba airport being shut down, and people ordered to evacuate. Several members of our Play for Peace family hid in their homes to escape the gunfire that surrounded them. One of our members reported the presence of tanks near her home. Many people have sought refuge at United Nations camps, which themselves had come under fire. Our partner organization, Hold the Child, has been providing updates on its Facebook page. The U.S. State Department evacuated the U.S. embassy and ordered all non-essential staff to leave the country. The United Nations has reported that nearly 36,000 people have been displaced due to the fighting. Today, we are thankful to hear that, while the situation is still tense, a cease-fire has been declared.

As NBC News reports, “After days of heavy fighting South Sudan's president declared a unilateral cease-fire at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) Monday. Following what appeared to be a burst of celebratory gunfire that evening, the truce appeared to be holding.” We have always been delighted by the wonderful reports from our mentors, Eric, Riya, Fred, and Nancy, and those who traveled with them to schools throughout Juba, often engaging in school-wide Practice Peace Sessions. Our Play for Peace Club in South Sudan involved 800 people in their World Peace Day Celebration last year. Executive Director Sarah Gough invites our global learning community to keep our friends in South Sudan in our thoughts: “We hope you will join us in sending thoughts and prayers for the peaceful resolution of the current conflict in Juba and for the safety of all members of our Play for Peace community who are affected by this heartbreaking situation.”