“Despite the difficult conditions, many people are reluctant to return home because they don’t know what will happen with the negotiations,” said Gabriel Yai.Caritas South Sudan is coordinating the national Catholic Church response with the aid of Caritas members CRS (USA), CAFOD (UK), Caritas Switzerland and CORDAID (Netherlands).Caritas responded immediately in the capital Juba and across the country. Many people fled to Church compounds and other places of worship. Caritas organisations provided food and water distributions.In the coming weeks, Caritas organisations will focus on shelter, providing clean water and good sanitation to prevent the spread of disease and food, though that is currently not a key concern for the immediate future.In Awerial County, CRS and diocesan Caritas will respond to water and sanitation and non-food needs in the area. A first truck was then sent with mosquito nets, buckets, water bladders and agricultural tools.The Catholic Church has been part of ecumenical peacebuilding efforts, including a week of prayer organised by the archdiocese of Juba.“We are not defeated by war, death and any misbehavior,” said Arcbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro of Juba at a prayer for peace event. “Let us continue asking ourselves, where is your brother and where is your sister in the city of Juba and the country at large? Through these pains, we are not heading for death but for better life.”