The middle class in South Sudan is not only disappearing. It’s being ruined.
Latest investigation by The Sentry reported that many political leaders in South Sudan “hid” in recent years billions of dollars from the international aid and now, with no shame, they show luxury houses overseas, millionaires bank accounts and leisure trips in first class and five star hotels. Meanwhile, the country is suffering one of the toughest humanitarian crisis in the planet. With an inflation that already exceeds 800%, five million people in urgent need of food and 2.5 million displaced and refugees because of an endless civil war, the country is in total collapse. The saddest part is that the middle-class citizens, those who have stable and important jobs and are supposed to put the country back on track, are not only disappearing, but are also being ruined. Doctors, teachers, civil servants and businessmen have so ridiculous salaries that can’t cover medical expenses or pay drinking water for their families. Betty, who is working in a hospital in Juba for 24 years, has now a devalued salary of $ 10 a month, which she didn’t received for the last four months due to the ministry bankrupt. Moses, who runs a fruit stand in the city, has sent his family to Uganda as refugees to ensure their meals; and Tabitha, a university lecturer with a “high” salary of nearly $ 200 a month, prays that her children don’t get sick and endanger the family economy. The poor class is increasing in the world’s youngest country and there won’t be a way back.