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Women call for support to fence rice farm in Warrap

A group of women farmers in Warrap state says they need help to protect their rice scheme from being destroyed in Twic county. The group said they have sixteen feddan with rice at various locations in Twic county.

The farms are in the areas of Aweng, Mangok Amuol, and Lol-Kou Ayien Amuol Boma.

Alek Piot Mayol is one of the women’s representatives. She says the rice field are at high risk of being destroyed by livestock.

She said any help to construct a fence around the farms would prevent animals from entering and grazed from their rice farmland.

Ms. Piot called upon the humanitarian agencies working in Warrap state to support fencing or construct dykes that will keep animals away.

The call for assistance came during a commemoration of “International Day of rural women’s resilience in the wake of COVID-19. The day was celebrated in Twic county at Mangok Amuol Boma last week.

Mr. Yai Deng Yai is the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) project coordinator for food security and livelihood in Twic county. He said they supported the groups to plant rice but said they had no funds to construct fences around the farm fields.

Deng said that they did not foresee the risk of animals destroying rice fields but will include that in the next project to continue supporting women in the state.

The United Nations’ International Day of Rural Women celebrates and honors women and girls living in rural areas on October 15 each year.

The event considered the role rural mothers, daughters, and grandmothers play in producing food and building agricultural and rural development worldwide.

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Three people were injured in Bor after a dry old tree collapse on them

At least three people have been injured, leaving one in critical condition after one of the oldest trees collapsed. The incident happened on Wednesday evening around 7 PM in Bor, Jonglei state.

The tree is famous in the area which one of the residential names, “Langbaar,” in Dinkais scientifically known(Ziziphus spina-christi). Langbaar is located 3 Kilometers Northeast of Marol Market in Bor town and is believed to be 100 years.

Chier Jok, a 71-year local chief in Bor said the tree had been there before he was born.

He claimed the Sudanese Soldiers cut off the tree branches during the liberation struggle because of the fear of SPLA spotting the area using it for long-range bombardment.

“I am 71 years old, and the tree has been existing as Langbaar. It was the tallest tree in the area when I was a boy. There was no other Neem tree in the area. Even during British, when they were marking the road that goes up to the area of Athooch. It was known as Langbaar Ateet because it falls just in the territory of Atet Community,” said Chief Chier Jok.

Ustaz Makoy Dhal was nearby when the tree collapsed. He said they rushed in to rescue those who were knocked down by the dead branches of wood.

He said among three injured, two were women, one of them is in critical condition, and a boy sustained injuries.

Dr. Bol Chaw Manyang is the Director of Bor hospital. He said the woman critically injured has been transferred to Juba using an Ambulance for further medication.

The Ziziphus spina-christi tree, or “Langbaar” in the local language, is a thorny tree that bears fruit. Its leaves and fruits are used for nutritional and medicinal purposes.

 

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Toposa and Didinga communities resolve to end conflict

The Toposa and Didinga communities in greater Kapoeta have resolved to end bloodshed and pave way for peace following a three days peace dialogue organized by Nyakirikit Consortium Organization in Ngauro Payam of Budi County this week.

The peace conference began on Monday and ended on Wednesday this week.

The two communities have agreed that those who will violate peace agreement will be arrested and handed over to the government to face the law.

The residents attending the peace dialogue have welcomed the peace treaty between the two communities.

“Fighting is really bad we give birth to children but they go and die through revenge killing for both side it is really bad and when people go for gold mining, garden or collect firewood they are being killed for nothing we have agreed to end this,” said one resident about the peace dialogue.

The two communities during the peace conference resolved that anyone found raiding cows or goats will pay the double number of animals they took.

They also agreed to share grazing lands but on agreed terms to avoid conflict.

Clement Loboya who is the deputy secretary general for Nyakirikit says the aim of the peace dialogue is to bring together the two communities to end cattle raiding and revenge killings.

He explained that their organization is working hard to deliver services to the local communities together with help of the government for better development.

“We started implementing peace process with inspiration in implement other developmental services to the communities, this is the first of its kind. We first started in Budi – Buya communities in Kimotong,” said Clement Loboya.

The county commissioner of Budi appreciated Nyakirikit Consortium for the initiative.

Hon. Akileo Mboya Peter Anyanga said when there is peace among the communities, there is easy development of the state.

He explained that the government is working hard to provide security and developmental programs to the citizens.

“The document we signed here is a good, it will bring peace. For us the peace for today means there will be no more bloodshed in our communities. What is remaining is us the government to provide you with clean water, schools, hospitals, medicines for the animals and seeds for people to cultivate,” said Akileo Mboya

He is urging youths to refrain from cattle raid and revenge killing and should follow the resolutions agreed in the conference.

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Aid worker killed in Budi County

An NGO worker was shot dead after a humanitarian vehicle was attacked on Wednesday in Budi County, Eastern Equatoria.

The female staff killed, identified as Ann Clara Amono, worked for CORDAID International organization operating in the area.

The eyewitness says the attack occurred along Camp 15 Chukudum road, no culprit was arrested.

CORDAID’s finance administrator Repent Ndrago who also survive the attack, says the incident occurred on their way to Kapoeta town, and the attackers were putting on civilian clothes.

The deceased is a Ugandan National who worked as medical staff in Budi county for over five years.

“We were coming as a team a convoy of four vehicles, one ambulance, then one car from Save the Children, then two other operation vehicles for Cordaid when we reached Ngerera. I was in the first vehicle then I saw somebody pointing at us with the gun but never shot they left and then our last vehicle which was behind was the one got shot at of our staff sustain blooding and died immediately,” He narrated.

Another Cordaid staff, James Lokoro, explained said: “we only hard the bullets shot towards our car from the bush while we’re crossing a stream.”

“The incident happened yesterday at 11:30 am in a place called Ngerera when we cross the river I saw one person coming, and then we passed that person then shortly I hear the gunshot two bullets one took the deceased then we just keep driving so the person who shoot us we don’t see maybe was hiding in the bush”

Budi county health officer Anjelo Mauro condemns the killing of the humanitarian worker. He describes decease as a committed person who served the community tirelessly.

“It is a massive blow to the people of Budi. They have lost one of their servant Amon Clara which has served almost five years providing maternal and health for the whole county. She was a very dedicated servant who doesn’t care about her life. She died because of people of Budi county.”

Mauro urged the government to arrest the suspect and called for the deployment of security forces to stop the further incident.

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The U.S. announced 95 million dollars humanitarian aid to South Sudan

The United States government has announced new funding for humanitarian aid in South Sudan.

The money will support displaced communities and lives serving assistance in the remote villages affected by the conflict.

International partners urged government intervention in community building while announcing a grant of 95 million dollars on Thursday. 

The fund is directed to World Food Program (WFP) to provide those needs with food assistance.

Mr. Mathew Hollingworth is the WFP Country Director. He said many vulnerable communities affected by the crisis and living remotely are in daring need of aid.

“The fund come at very important time they are part of a consistent, predictable support from the government of United States to the people of South Sudan through World Food Programme” He said

Recently the World Food Programme announced the reduction of food ratio to 50 percent.

The U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan, Larry Andre, said South Sudan is in critical need of humanitarians’ assistant due to political, severe flooding and inter-communal violence. 

Diplomate is deeply concerned about increasing scale, intensity, and geographical threats of conflict in South Sudan, which affected food production.

Larry warned South Sudan should not be food-deficit while it has adequate rainfall and enormous cultivating potential. 

The Minster of humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has welcome U.S. support to South Sudanese people.

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification released this year shown an estimated 7.5 million South Sudanese need humanitarian assistance, including 6.5 million who need food assistance.

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Citizens contributed over 1 million pounds to a disabled student

South Sudanese in the diaspora have donated over 1 million pounds to a disabled young man known as John Lual is 21 years old

He graduated this year from standard eight after sitting his primary national examination in Aweil East County.

Well-wishers who contributed money were so amazed by his determination to achieve education ambition goals. The disabled man uses his mouth to write. That inspired many people.

The amount of money contributed and officially received on Wednesday 7th was reported 1,045,000 South Sudanese pounds. Friends use the social media platform “Go fund my project” to raise money to support his further education.

Lual hopes to become a medical doctor in the future. He confirmed that he has “received the money with joy, and the donation will help him support his family.”

“I want to thank the people who supported us with the money; People use to tell me that school is not for the disabled, that it is for normal people with no disabilities. But I did not give up, and I will make these people who support me proud”, he uttered.

Mr. Lual disclosed that his family decided to buy a house in Aweil town to bring him close to a secondary school.

Mr. Bol Chol Guot is the fundraising initiative organizer, said that well-wishers donated the money after reading Lual’s story online.

“I just saw his story and felt touched. So, I decided to create a go fund project on Facebook to handle the story as I can help. The young man will also encourage many youths to study because his story is different and motivates people to learn despite all difficulties”.

So, it will make many people join the school, and feel that it is not challenging to study if john a disabled man who writes using his mouth is learning” Chol narrated.

Bol called the public to support vulnerable people in the community, especially disabled people.

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UN Chief opt support flood-affected families in South Sudan.

Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan David Shearer has declared support to the floods affected people in the Bahr El Ghazal region and other parts of the Country.

Several areas are facing severe flooding this year, Jonglei, Unity, and the Lakes States.

According to the report published by UNHOCA on Oct 5, 2020, around 1.67 million people believe are internally displaced. “There has been a spike in food insecurity in Western Bahr el Ghazal due to recent severe flooding in August 2020”.

Mayardit FM [Turalei] spoked to the UN SRSG David Shearer in an inclusive interview on Thursday. He assured the public that his office would work with humanitarian agencies to support the flood-affected communities. And repair significant roads connecting the Counties in the state.

He acknowledged poor harvest this year due to flooding in some parts of the Country has caused hunger threats that make it challenging to end the malnutrition situation. 

Shearer mentioned that UN agencies include UNFOA, UNICEF, the World Food Program, and other NGOs that will take the leading role in supporting vulnerable people.

“You have flooding and the people looking for food, and with that, we have been in discussing with the world food program on how we can help these people. So, we are trying to help the areas affected. That is why we have been in discussion with the humanitarians.”

The press secretary to the governor of Warrap state, Mr. Albino Kuek, said  roads connecting the Counties will help improve insecurity, health, and others.

“When you renovate the road, it curves the security matters in all the County. It also helps reach flood-affected citizens and also helps deliver the requirements of the schools as well as medicines.”

Last year, the United States of America, former Ambassador to S-Sudan, Thomas Hushek, also assured their supports on developmental projects after conflict.

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Kenyan Forces Seen Deploy at the Nadapal border.

Kenya’s government has deployed six hundred security forces in the Nadapal border, authority in Kapoeta East County reported.

It accused the neighboring Kenyan of violated borderline and cross into South Sudan territory beyond the normal counterpart demarcation.

The state government has seen such a move uncertain marginal that violate regional boundary. An eyewitness said Kenyan soldiers were seen pushing their invasion toward South Sudan, patrolling using a helicopter. 

Nadapal is located in the southwest of Kapoeta East County, near the border with the Rift Valley province of Kenya. The Nadapal belt is an area stretching 25 kilometers (16 mi) southward from South Sudan to Lokichogio in Kenya. 

The executive director of Kapoeta East, Juma Justine, said Kenya forces were deployed in South Sudan territory last month without clear justification. A claim this news media can’t independently verify.

According to the official, recent deployment has caused fear among the civilians and pastoralists in the area.

Justine narrated that the two communities of Toposa and Turkana have to share grazing lands without a feud.

It’s unclear why Kenya deployed forces at which spark anxiety among people.

“It is true since misunderstanding of the road Kenyan when to come up to Nakondo our people come out from there since they say this place is not ours. And yet it is our territory that place they deployed their security personnel.” 

Juma has urged the communities to avoid panicking or cause any problem. “You should remain patient until the government solves the issue with the Kenyan counterparts.”

David Eriga, Secretary, based in Kapoeata County, has confirmed its forces to the border took place. He reaffirmed that the area where the Kenyan troops deployed were within South Sudan territory and not Kenya land, according to the map of “1914-1926”.

 “Yeah, indeed deployment of Kenyan forces is true is not at the border it is in our territory by 1914-1926 as per our independent 1956. The area where currently they are the territory of the Sudan which currently, which is South Sudan elemi triangle also to discuss is part of Sudan gave,” Eriga said. 

David blamed that the Kenya government has interfered with South Sudan, which violates the regional borderline. He urges the public to be patient as the National government is working hard to resolve the matter.

Singaita FM in Kapoeta contacted an official from the Kenya government on Tuesday, but decline to comment said was not authorized to talk. He refers to the station to speaks to the District Commissioner in Lokichogio. The Commissioner couldn’t answer numerous telephone calls in an attempt to get his view in this article.