Photographs by Kate Holt that show the brave girls of South Sudan as they fight to survive

Since independence in July 2011, armed conflict, economic insecurity and chronic underdevelopment in South Sudan have led to one of the world’s greatest humanitarian crises, with over 4 million people displaced and 7 million without enough food to eat.

As the girls in this exhibition at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) will tell you, hunger remains a daily challenge. From struggling to breastfeed and not being able to concentrate in school to not having enough to eat – these are the struggles that affect every part of their lives.

Launching on Saturday 30 March, Brave: The Girls of South Sudan is presented by Plan International UK, a global children’s charity that works to ensure every child has the same chance in life. When disaster strikes, they are there, on the ground helping those in need.

In South Sudan, Plan International UK and the Disasters Emergency Committee have been providing lifesaving seeds and tools so communities can grow their own crops and provide for their families. Discover more about the brilliant work they do at www.plan-uk.org.

Kate Holt is an award-winning photojournalist with over two decades of experience working as a photographer through Africa and the Middle East. Since living in South Sudan between 2005 and 2006, she has returned regularly to document the world’s newest country, and the daily struggle to survive for its people who are engulfed by war and poverty. Find out more about her work at www.kateholt.com.

Brave: The Girls of South Sudan by Kate Holt & Plan International UK will run at MAC in Birmingham from Saturday 30 March – Sunday 19 May 2019.