At least 170 households of internal displaced persons camping at Episcopal Church of South Sudan compound received food aid from CARITAS Yei.

Caritas office in Yei, is the social wing of the Catholic Diocese of Yei. The Faith-based agency on Saturday morning, distributed food assistance to IDPS who were displaced in 2023 from Lata boma Otogo Payam Yei River County

The Emergency and Project Coordinator of the organisation Chapa Wilson Diodone explains that the beneficiaries where given maize flour, beans, sugar and salt and the Project Coordinator further said that the aid support comes from the national office; Caritas South Sudan.

He hopes that the services will be extended to the other sites of the IDPS in Yei.

A direct beneficiary of the project; Sarah Ageni expressed gratitude to CARITAS for the support and calls for continued support

Another IPD Joseph Lumori Kapinda was thrill for the food aid and regrets the increasing commodity prices in the market, leaving many of them without choices, he also claims that his home back in Ombachi was set ablaze.

The speakers made these statements to Radio Easter 94.0 FM during the distribution of the food items at ECSS compound in Yei 

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The Church leader said returnees who came from Sudan are facing challenges of humanitarian support and economic hardship in the State.

‘‘I wish to express my solidarity with the people living in conflict situations, of victims of humanitarian and environmental tragedies’’ the Bishop added.

Remijio Adam mentions that the resurrection of Jesus is the Victory of the salvific plan of God, who sent his son into the world to save people from the slavery of sins from death and from all the forces that still destroy life.

The war in Sudan has affected several families who returned to South Sudan and could not afford to provide food for themselves.

Bishop Remijio was speaking to Voice of Hope Radio while delivering his Easter Message Thursday in Wau.

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The Eastern Equatoria State government is urging the National government to allocate funds to persons living with disabilities.

This came during an event organized by the South Sudan Women with disability marking the celebration of international women’s Day.

 The representative of the civil society network in Eastern Equatoria State Jimmy Kilang calls on the state government to allocate funds to support persons with disability.

He said, their persons with disabilities who cannot be able to work therefore they need to be supported financially.

“In other countries persons with disabilities are being supported, we went to many places, I went to Germany, Denmark and others, I got that people who are disabled have got protection from the government. In a month they will be given something that will help them because if you can see there are people who cannot be able to work but they want help from us. 

William British Noel, the Chairperson for the union of persons with disability in Eastern Equatoria State revealed that women of persons with disabilities are undergoing difficult situations because they take responsibilities of their own children.

He appeals to the state government to offer support to persons with disabilities and include representatives for persons with disability in the parliament. 

“We are taking responsibility of our children and our condition. That is why I am saying there is a lot of suffering for us but we bear. I am appealing to the government to support women with disability, from the 35% affirmative action of women and men you should give as 5% and women without disability should also give us 5%, we wanted 10% you should pity our situation, they said that let people disability be taken to parliament but we learnt that anyone who wants to go to parliament has joint a party but for us we are already a party,”

The minister for Gender, Child and Social Welfare in Eastern Equatoria State, Josephine Nabongorika urges persons with disability to cooperate with her ministry to address issues facing them.

She adds that the ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare is responsible for raising the voice and the problems faced by persons with disability to the governor.

She further tells persons with disabilities to get prepared for the upcoming elections, and elect members of persons with disability to represent them in the parliament.

“I urging all the people with disability in Eastern Equatoria State especially the women to cooperate with the ministry of Gender Child and Social welfare, you should not work out from the ministry because this is the ministry that will raise your voices to be heard, if there is any problem this will be the ministry that will present your problem in front of your governor.”

The International Women’s Day was celebrated under the theme: “inspire inclusion, promote gender equality, stop discrimination against women and girls with disability, nothing about us without us, and let us work together for inclusion.”

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A Church led organization Caritas South Sudan has appealed to the head of Caritas Network, people of goodwill, and International Community to Intervene and mitigate the suffering of the people through provision of aid.

The office of the President of the Integral Human Development Commission, Bishop Edurado Hiiboro, highlighted South Sudan’s “political instability” has resulted in a high number of internally displaced persons who are living in deplorable conditions.

Bishop Hiiboro also says continues “insecurity and inter-communal conflicts” contributing to hunger and complex emergencies in many parts of the country.

“The insecurity across the country has caused starvation on the population of South Sudan, and most of them abandon their sources of livelihood in a bid to save their lives.

The security situation challenge affected women, children, the aged, and people living with “disabilities.”

The unstable situation has made school children to drop out of school because of the “insecurity and fear” of being forcefully “recruited to serve as solders” in the conflicts, “he said.”

Adding that this has caused the number of out-of-school children to increase with the majority of these out-of-schools quickly becoming street children.

The Catholic Church leader who is serving as the President of the Integral Human Development Commission for the Catholic bishops’ conference of Sudan and South Sudan said the situation will impact negatively on the country’s security if not addressed immediately.

He explained, “South Sudan is also still struggling to overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw their already fragile economy come to a collapse.”

Bishop went ahead to explain how COVID-19 led to many people losing their jobs and livelihoods, causing those who were previously self-reliant to become dependent on well-wishers.

“I appeal and beseech you, Caritas network, people of goodwill, and International Community to not get tired of our knocking on your doors once again and again,” Bishop Edurado said in the letter on 8 March.

He went ahead and said, “This is because the Head of Caritas Network is their only hope and light at the end of the tunnel,” and added, “the people of South Sudan shall appreciate whatever support the Network, and people of goodwill accord them in whatever manner that they deem fit.

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The Grant Contract for additional budget aims to strengthen accessibility to safe water and improve WASH practices of vulnerable households through the provision of improved WASH facilities and services.

Ms. WATANABE Tomoko, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) on behalf of the Embassy of Japan said through AHA, the government of Japan will provide a solar-powered water supply system as well as promote behavior change on current hygiene and sanitation practices in targeted communities.

The diplomat added that the project was originally located in Twic East County, Jonglei State. Still, due to the persistent flood situation in the area, the Project has been suspended for a while.

“From the additional budget signed today, the project is now able to restart with a new location in Mangalla, Juba, where most of the IDPs from Twic East have moved.”

“The Embassy of Japan is pleased to move the project forward. Many residents of Twic East, Jonglei State have been displaced and relocated to Mangalla. We believe that this project will contribute to their livelihoods and the IDPs will be able to obtain the water they need to survive.”

“We also hope that the water supply system will be properly maintained and used with care,” Ms. Tomoko said.

Yar Martha Anyang, Executive Director of AHA signed the grant agreement on behalf of her Organization while Ms. WATANABE Tomoko, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) for the Japanese Embassy in South Sudan.

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The humanitarian fund is meant to benefit 64,000 direct recipients and over 110,000 other indirect beneficiaries according to a press release by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Juba.

The project to be implemented by World Vision in collaboration with ACDF (Action for Children Foundation) in South Sudan primarily targets displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, children, and women.

A key component of the project includes the implementation of a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) center in Aweil.

The NEXUS Project is designed to accelerate stabilization and strengthen the resilience of conflict-affected households, communities, and local systems.

The project aims to strengthen community resilience against natural and man-made shocks and crises through improved community-based disaster risk reduction and conflict resolution systems.

It also promotes sustainable food security and income generation for communities in Aweil East and Aweil North in Greater Bahr el Ghazal.

The project was launched in August 2022 and will run until December 2026 according to German Embassy’s press release.

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The International Coordinating Group (ICG) has approved more than four hundred thousand doses of yellow fever vaccine for 5 counties in Western Equatoria State.

This came after the South Sudan Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of yellow fever in Western Equatoria early this month.

According to report 024 released on 19 January 2024 by the public health emergency operations center, the vaccine will be donated to Yambio, Nzara, Ezo, Tombura, and Ibba Counties.

In December, the Ministry of Health released a statement informing the general public of the outbreak in Yambio County.

“The Ministry of Health in South Sudan would like to inform the General Public of the confirmation of yellow fever in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State.”

On 21 December 2023, a young man of 18 years old in Gangura Payam developed symptoms of generalized body weakness, headache, fever, and vomiting.

The results of the sample collected from the case patient and tested at the National Public Health Laboratory on 24 December and later at the Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed yellow fever infection.

The Ministry of Health has activated the Public Health Emergency operation centers to facilitate a coordinated response.

The Ministry of Health stated that a team of experts from National, subnational, WHO, and partners were mobilized to conduct a detailed field investigation, active case research, community mobilization, and sensitization of Gangura and its surrounding areas.

The Ministry of Health put in some directives to be followed by the general public, which include vaccination of travelers coming in and going out against yellow fever, populations advised to sleep under mosquito nets, and report any suspected case to nearby health facilities or using the call center hotline number (6666).

The ministry called on the public to cooperate with officials during the investigation and response to the outbreak. 

The ministry reassures the people of South Sudan that, with the experience and available expertise in the Country, the yellow fever outbreak will be contained.

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Authorities in Chukudum of Eastern Equatoria State have revealed that the hospital lacks consignment of essential drugs 

Lokang Augustine Koito said drugs for malaria and typhoid are used up immediately due to prevalence of malaria and typhoid

He said drugs available at the hospital includes ceftriaxone, artemether, coartem and artesunate. 

“according to Chukudum County Hospital there are always consignment that we received from the national government and we have them, we have not run short of drugs but only the essential drugs, essential drugs are like for malaria, because of the high number of typhoid then you find that they are taking a lot of ceftraxione, they are taking a lot of arthemeter, coartem, artasunate but they are plenty we did not run short of if we have them”  

Augustine added that despite the availability of medicines, man power remains a challenge due to lack of motivation for qualified health workers to carry out hospital activities as required

He however calls on the National and State Ministry of Health to allocate enough budget to the health sector to save lives of people.

” you know you graduate the batch every year make sure that there is budget that is allocated for these people to be employed and now people that were graduated three years ago you find that there are still struggling there is no job although we have them and you know when somebody is not motivated many times such person will not perform fairly also sometime they come but you find with a lot complains”

The health official further called on NGOs supporting the health sectors to motivate staff rendering services for the wellbeing of communities.

The speaker made these remarks to Radio Emmanuel in a telephone interview on Thursday

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In a statement released during the Annual Plenary Assembly at the Catholic Health Training Institute, which was conducted in Wau this week, the Prelates from both countries expressed their dismay over the continued fighting in Sudan.

The Catholic Prelates noted the pain and the suffering the prolonged conflict continued to inflict on the church, religious leaders, and the people of Sudan at large.

“We, the Bishops and Ordinaries of Sudan and South Sudan gathered for our Annual Plenary Assembly to share and reflect on various pastoral and socio-political situations of our Dioceses in the Sudan and South Sudan,” the statement reads in part.

The statement further added, “We also noted with pain the appalling socio-political situations affecting our people in both countries.”

The Catholic bishops also point out that the continued armed conflict in Sudan is causing more massive destruction to human lives, property, and religious and learning institutions.

According to the statement, religious leaders in Sudan particularly, in Khartoum and El-Obeid have been forced to flee their residences and places of worship due to indiscriminate bombardment of buildings forcing many religious leaders and people to walk long distances in search of shelter.

The bishops urge the international community, the Troika, and the United Nations to continue rendering support in the humanitarian sector to alleviate the crisis and help those in dire need of assistance.

“We would like to appeal to the International Community, the Troika and United Nations not to sit back but to continue its responsibility of working towards addressing the crisis and providing the necessary support to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan,” they highlighted.

The Sudan conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his former Deputy General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo also known as Hemedti, the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) occurred in mid-April this year.

Since the conflict broke out seven months ago, villages in regions such as Darfur and Kordofan have been burned down to ashes leaving many citizens without shelter and accommodation.

According to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), an estimated 3.5 million people have been evacuated from the Capital Khartoum and other cities.

Meanwhile, 2.7 million people are estimated to have been either displaced internally or have crossed international borders to the neighboring countries for refuge.

Similarly, there are many continued reports on gross human rights abuses and war crimes being committed in Sudan to date.

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The displaced persons who came from Manyang were supported with food and nonfood items on Thursday.

Chairperson of Yamama Goum Shouf Mostagbal Association Ann Nyang Dhiu says they have distributed sugar, soaps, and some clothes.

She mentioned that they went with the State government and other national organizations to see what should be done to IDPs before the rainy season begins.

Internal Displace People representative Monica Agol Akol Mayar says she received 50 Kg of Sugar, 1 and a half boxes of soap, and some clothes for children, women, and elder people.

She appeals for more support and asks the government to bring Perpetrators tor to law because the country is going for an election and who will replace those who have been killed.

Director General at the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Ann Daniel Ali describes the situation of IDPs as worsening for women and children.

She promised to work together with partners and the government on ways to support the displaced persons.

Commissioner of Jur River County James Ernest Makuei acknowledges Mama Goum Shouf Mostagbla Association’s commitment to support his people in Alel-chok and Marial Ajieth.

‘‘I will report the situation of the IDPs to the state government so that the Governor and Deputy Governor should come so that they will see the situation and report accuracy information to the president ’’ he adds.

The officials were speaking to Voice of Hope Radio in Wau on Thursday.

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The female activist said girl child compensation as a practice, she emphasised funds as
main hindrance to sensitisation of community members at the grass roots to stop the
vice.
“In terms of issues, we have girl child compensation, early and force marriage and
violence against women mostly in Eastern Equatoria state we have different types of
GBV compared to other states like child compensation only happens here. we are really
working but the problem is just lack of funding to implement the work up to the
grassroots we are lacking funding so we need UN women to support women led
organisations especially in Eastern Equatoria to deliver their work at grassroots level “,
said the activist
The Gender and Humanitarian Specialist at UN women in South Sudan; Elizabeth
Awate cautioned humanitarian actors on ways of conducting gender mainstreaming and
analysis when conducting gender needs to be addressed for the betterment of the entire
population in the community.
She encouraged addressing needs of the suffering population to positively impact
people in the community.
“How are we going to mainstream gender in the humanitarian work we have been
talking about development work for a very long time but how do we mainstream, how do
we do gender analysis when we are conducting needs assessment, how do we ensure
that the needs of women, men, girls and boys are taken care of, we are trying to do
much but we need to do more so that we ensure that during disasters, conflicts then this
issue sure taken into consideration”, Awate said
“Most people believe that humanitarian is quick, there is no need to talk about gender
but its not true we need to make sure that we find out how many people are affected,
what are the needs, how do we address and how are we going to impact on their lives
and how are they going to benefit from the way we are doing our work”, she said
The director for planning, training and gender focal point at the national ministry of
humanitarian affairs James Bol Reech says the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs takes
lead in gender mainstreaming and disaster management
As the ministry of humanitarian affairs ,we take  a lead in mainstreaming gender and
disaster ,gender is a cross cutting issues as well as disaster so our main overall is we
have to take policies on how we prepare ourselves as South Sudanese in the state or
the national, bomas or payams on how we respond and mitigate because people  are
mostly affected during disaster and women, children boys and girls including even men
with disability we are trying to empower women who are resilient to disaster , if we have
women networking in Eastern Equatoria, they will help

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The fighting is between the soldiers led by Gen. Simon Maguek Gai who recently defected from SPLA and joined the South Sudan People Defense Forces.

Hundreds of women and children reported deserted their homes and villages seeking safety in Leer town as the violence escalated into many villages.

Some eyewitnesses say they have seen people carrying their belongings while running toward Payak, Nyony, and other villages in Leer’s surrounding areas.

Others said the gunshots were heard around Leer Market at 1 PM. Unconfirmed reports suggested that five people were wounded including three civilians shot in crossfires admitted at Medicine San Frontiers [MSF]

Leer County Commissioner Stephen Taker Riek has confirmed the ongoing violence in the area but could not give further details.

Some humanitarian workers were seen at Leer airstrip being escorted by UN peacekeepers to catch up with their evacuation plane. The attack came a few weeks after necessary Unified Forces (NUF) deployed in Upper Nile.

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The County Director for Help a Child, Angelo Lubang Paterno said that returnees are in big numbers but this project only supports 400 households with food items.

“The returnees from Sudan is quite huge and in this project, we are supporting 400 hundred households and if you multiply by six, it can give you a clear number of people that are receiving the support directly,” Paterno explained.

Some returnees expressed joy for receiving the emergency assistance, and appreciated the organization for supporting them.

They said, “We can’t believe it, we would get food because when we flee from Sudan, we ran empty handed without anything… We would like to thank the Humanitarian Agencies and organizations for the support but we are still leaving in people’s houses at the moment.”

The representative of the returnees; Samuel Ferdinand, advised his fellow returnees to share with others who did not receive these items.

Ferdinand disclosed that they have difficulties staying with some of their relatives because they cannot provide anything, he appealed to the host families to be patient and cooperate with them because this situation is not permanent.

The speakers made these remarks to the media on Friday in Wau.

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The agency reported that more than 3,000 returnees arriving daily arrival as the fighting between the Sudanese Army and Rapid Support Forces continues.

Oxfam Country Director in South Sudan Dr. Manenji Mangundu says more than 17 thousand arrive daily in Renk.

“Since the last weeks of October, we have seen a new record surge in arrivals. We are talking of nearly 3,000 people arriving daily into Renk, which means more than 17,000 people every week, as compared to not more than 10,000 people traveling further South in the same period,” he said

Mangundu is worried about a possible outbreak of waterborne diseases and the easy spread of any contagious diseases due to insufficient health screening processes on arrival.

“With overcrowding at the transit center, sanitation levels have continued to deteriorate. We are worried that there is a risk of a potential outbreak of waterborne diseases and ground for easy spread of any contagious diseases that are rarely detected due to insufficient health screening processes on arrival.”

Dr. Manenji calls for the dignified resettlement of returnees and refugees in a permanent location, away from the overcrowded transit camp as Oxfam continues to support them with water and sanitation services.

“Oxfam together with other aid agencies has been supporting returnees and refugee arrivals with water and sanitation services, alongside a host of protection-related interventions. While we do so, we are mindful of the need for dignified resettlement to a more permanent location, away from the overcrowded transit camp.”

He adds that dignified living spaces will be good for sanitation services and other mitigation of any concerns that arise.

Oxfam regrets the significant scale-up in fighting across the border as they see several refugees and returnees a rise in arrivals to South Sudan.

“We note with sadness the significant scale up in fighting across the border, and with this, we are concerned, as we see a rise in number of arrivals in South Sudan.”

Oxfam’s director calls on donors to consider the plight of the women and children who brave the heavy rains in the open spaces, who have no reason to suffer.

“We note with sadness the significant scale up in fighting across the border, and with this, we are concerned, as we see a rise in number of arrivals in South Sudan.”

Oxfam reported that the conflict has displaced over 5.8 million people both within Sudan and neighboring countries, increasing the demand for humanitarian aid.

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The initiative aims to rally and mobilize resources and other humanitarian assistance to support the affected population in the country and in refugee camps, particularly Gorom camp in South Sudan’s capital, Juba. 

Since the conflict erupted in Sudan in April, over 14,000 people lost their lives and about 18,000 others have been injured since 15 August 2023. 

The UN reported that more than 4.6 million people were internally displaced, and 1.2 million fled the country as refugees with over 1.2 million people could not access essential services for survival and well-being.

Yoal Gatkuoth, a Civil Society Activist and leader of the Pan-African Peacemakers Alliance (PAPA) says it’s crucial to mobilize material and non-material support to address the needs of vulnerable groups, particularly women, children, and elderly people, who have been disproportionately impacted by the conflict

“You can donate essential resources such as food, medical supplies, clothes, blankets, mattresses, rice, flour, children’s toys, dried milk powders, recreational items, diapers, plates, cups, cooking utensils, cooking oil, menstrual supplies, and first aid kits to those affected by the crisis in Gorom,” Gatkuoth said.

Mr. Gatkuoth says the donations can go a long way in alleviating the suffering and improving the overall well-being of the Sudanese people in Gorom camp.

PAPA, as a youth-led action-oriented peace building and advocacy organization, is appealing for political solutions to the ongoing conflicts in Sudan. The humanitarian crisis and human rights violations are exacerbated by the instability and violence that plague the region.

The campaigners shared contacts to donate financially, using the following methods: Paypal, Debit Card, Orange money: +221 786848623, Mpesa pay bill number: 9742415, MTN Ghana: 053465202.

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