Married aid workers from Greenwich have returned home for Christmas after working in war-torn South Sudan for a year.

Alex Fergusson, 30, a logisitics officer, and his wife, Lois, 31, a doctor, worked with a team in Maban County providing healthcare and nutrition to 40,000 refugees who have fled violence in South Sudan.

It's been almost one year since fighting broke out in the capital of South Sudan and due to the ongoing conflict, there has been a severe food shortage.

Lois said: "We suffered a series of armed attacks on the health facilities we run by people in search of food.

"We saw people climbing trees to pick leaves to eat and the team has even had children wait outside our nutrition centres to collect used wrappers from the nutrition supplement we distribute, so that they can lick the inside of them."

Despite the troubled situation in South Sudan, Alex and Lois are determined to continue their effors, signing up for another two year stint at disaster relief agency Medair.

The couple will be working in the emergency response team, Lois as a medical manager and Alex as the project coordinator, responsible for the strategy and the coordination of this programme.

Alex said: "Being able to return home for a weeks holiday is such a privelige, and not one that is open to the refugees that we work with.

"It makes us realise how much we take for granted and how lightly we consider our daily freedoms."

Since conflict erupted in the South Sudan last December, more than 1.9 million people have been left homeless and countless civilians have been killed.

Medair has been assisting thousands of affected people through nutrition health, water, sanitation and emergency shelter since 1991.

Lois said: "Emergency relief isn't needed in a stable environment where people have access to all kinds of services and facilities.

"It starts with presence, being there and showing the people that they're not alone, even if the situation is tense.

"If we are able to bring some relief with our expertise, it's worth it."