South Sudan . South Sudan by Crispin Hughes South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on July 9th of this year following a 2005 peace deal. Tensions remain both with the North and from rebel groups within this complex country. In the 1990s I made several trips around South Sudan documenting the consequences of the war. With independence and a still uncertain future I thought it would be a good time to revisit these images. All of our advertising is certified by Google and therefore may be viewed safely. South Sudan. Pajok, Eastern Equatoria 1994.  An SPLA soldier trying to locate this child's mother after an attack. South Sudan. Palotaka Boy's School, Eastern Equatoria 1994. “My name is John; I am a twelve-year-old Dinka boy from Bor [about 300 kilometres away]. The other boys here are my friends now, they are like my brothers.” Subject to air raids and ground attacks, the 2000 or so 'lost boys' moved from place to place and country to country organising and looking after themselves. South Sudan. Akot school, Bahr el Ghazal 1994. Samuel Doot and Masteyo Aping play in the ruins of their school. Once a large and thriving school, it has been destroyed by the war leaving a generation of children to play in its ruins. South Sudan. Parajok, Eastern Equatoria 1994. Akuot Ngor fled with 42,000 others from government air raids. “We fled in panic with no chance to bring food. I have only this one dress which has become dirty from sleeping on the ground.” South Sudan.  Ame, Eastern Equatoria. Kuol Malok (19) is an SPLA rebel soldier: “I like being a soldier in this war only, we are fighting for our country, and if I have killed it is good so long as we fight till victory.” South Sudan. Palotaka boys school north of Nimule1995. Traditional Dinka skills learnt by boys in cattle camps are being eroded. The boys draw nostalgic pictures of cows on the ruined walls of the school. South Sudan. Cattle Camp, Agangrial, Bahr el Ghazal 1995.  Traditional Dinka haircut. The past is linked with the present by leaving some hair on the head, so that when the new hair grows it is connected to the old. It connects up the spiritual life of the generations. South Sudan. Palotaka boys school north of Nimule 1995.  Air raid drill.  The 2000 or so 'lost boys' have been driven from place to place by the war. South Sudan. Maridi Hospital, Western Equatoria 1995.  Dr Onwere is a Nigerian surgeon.  “This is a hernia operation on a 45 year old Moro man. Hernias are now common here because a poor diet leads to a weakening of the stomach wall. If this hospital were not here he would have died because there is no other surgeon within about 90 miles.” South Sudan. Maridi Market South Sudan. Maridi, Western Equatoria 1995.  Commander Gier Chuang Aluong of the Sudan people's Liberation Army.  'We must show the population that we are a liberation army. If this war stops tomorrow - Saturday - I can assure you that on Sunday I will be doing something different.' South Sudan. Kongor 1994.  Achol Bowai (38) waiting for food aid to arrive by light aircraft in this area cut off by the fighting. South Sudan. Kongor, Upper Nile 1994.  Child waiting to receive his allowance of one cup of grain to take back to his family. Kenya. Lopiding ICRC Hospital, Lokichokio 1994.  Aid planes returning from Sudan bring casualties of the war to the 415-bed Red Cross hospital. Most patients are suffering from gunshot or landmine wounds. Every day several scores of Sudanese amputees wait patiently for adjustment to their newly fitted artificial limbs. South Sudan. Ayod 1994.  Puk Nyon Ran, initiated in 1948 when he was about fifteen, is from the Nuer tribe.  “I was once a big man in the village, with three wives, twenty children, seventy cattle and a hundred goats, but now I am starving. Two of my wives and three of my children were seized and killed by the SPLA Mainstream, all of my cattle were taken and I fled from my home village of Woi. I have spent two years living in the swamps trying to stay alive. We used to be good neighbours with the Dinka: compensation was customary if there were any killings. I don't know why they came and attacked us as they did.” South Sudan. Kongor, Upper Nile 1994. Deng Ding (16) a fighter with the SPLA Mainstream. His father was killed by the SPLA United faction and their cattle taken. Three of his brothers and sisters died of starvation. South Sudan. Kongor 1994.  Part of the 'hunger triangle' of Kongor, Ayod and Waat in which fighting between the rival factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Army brought famine and dispacement to most of the population. South Sudan. Labone 1995.  David Thon. “I haven't seen any of my relatives since I walked from the Jonglei region to the school at Palotaka. The governmet took Palotaka and we fled to Omeri, but two weeks ago bandits attacked us there: we lost everything but escaped with our lives. It is very painful to travel such a long journey. When i grow up i want to be a priest.' South Sudan. Kongor 1994. Neyardeny Mayer Madeng came from her home village of Pule 20 days walk away in search of food. When she arived in Kongor there were no aid flights for two weeks. Her baby is starving and her husband is away in the swamps fishing. South Sudan. Ame, Eastern Equatoria 1995.  The war has triggered a resurgence in the practice of Christianity. South Sudan. Palotaka boys school north of Nimule 1995. Peter Nhial (11)  “My mother and father sent me here three years ago, I don't know if i will see them again. When I grow up I want to be teacher.”