Nyanut’s baby triplets were struggling to breathe and had stopped feeding.

Their small chests expanded in and out, in short, sharp breaths.

Deeply concerned, Nyanut set out to the nearest health centre to meet the International Rescue Committee’s team of experts.

The 30 minute walk felt like a lifetime as her babies deteriorated.

By the time she got to the centre, her children were vomiting and struggling with diarrhea. Their bodies were hot with fever.

Triplets Simon, Deng and Abraham were born in South Sudan – one of the poorest and most undeveloped countries in the world.

Decades of civil war and flooding has caused food shortages and diseases to spread.

Last year, Nyanut’s husband died. Now, she has to look after her five children on her own. She says that often she will skip meals so that her children can have more to eat.

When she arrived at an IRC health centre with her boys, staff immediately diagnosed them with pnenomia and malnutrition – the leading cause of death around the world.

They were given life-saving nutrition treatment and antibiotics by our staff.

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Now, every day, they get stronger. 

Nyanut now attends mother-to-mother support groups which support her emotionally.

The IRC provide vital health support and emergency aid throughout South Sudan, reaching more than 900,000 people across the country.

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Discover how we’re helping people in South Sudan as they try to rebuild their lives and restore peace.