Stories written by Danielle Batist

South Sudan’s Most Vulnerable

By Danielle Batist
At first sight, the village of Rokwe on the outskirts of Juba looks like any other village in South Sudan. The sun shines bright on the grass roofs of the mud huts and sounds from a church choir practising can be heard in the distance. Only the scenery at the local health centre gives away that this is no ordinary place.
Pregnant and with three small children, Sabia Leot, who hasn

SUDAN: Starting from Scratch

By Danielle Batist
In their hundreds of thousands they have crossed the border, arriving by boat, bus or on foot. After decades of civil war with the north, South Sudanese have come back home to witness the birth of their new nation on Jul. 9. The fight for independence has come to an end, but for many returnees, the struggle is far from over.
Brothers James and Peter Mabior lost each other during the war, reunited in Nairobi and went back to South Sudan together to vote for independence. Credit: Danielle Batist/SNS

SUDAN: The Point of No Return

By Danielle Batist
From across the border, they anxiously watch the drama unfold. As their home land of South Sudan prepares itself to split from the Islamic north, fighting continues across the disputed oil-rich areas. During the decades of civil war, almost 400,000 refugees dreamt of the day independence would come. But now it is finally there, many are not ready to go home.


paul morland