Jonglei’s Khorfulus commissioner hails peace for health
By Philip Thon Aleu
February 25, 2009 (BOR TOWN) – Mortality rate has reduced in the last four years compared to pre-peace periods in Khorfulus, a County leader told the Sudan Tribune here in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.
Commissioner Hon. James Yor Chol also underscored conflicts – mainly between Atar and Khorfulus communities over County name, headquarters location and administrative distribution as well as what he described as “poorly staffed schools” amongst major challenges his administration is trying to knock-off road to prosperity.
A peace conference held between Atar and Khorfulus communities from December 18 to 20 last year resolved Canal County in Atar area as the name of County with a centralized headquarters to be agreed. An amicable power sharing was also reached to distribute positions according to former Courts namely; Atar, Wut-lem and Khor-wac.
However, Mr. Chol says, a small group – mainly intellectuals never attended the conference and have refused to honour the truth and now inciting violence. “Those who refused to attend peace conference from Atar are causing conflict but we call for calm,” he said warning a faction of intellectuals that aligns with raiders to cease the practice “because those dying are civilians. Not intellectuals.” Hon. James Yor Chol calls for peaceful approach to difference between Khorfulus and Atar citizens for life to normalize in villages. He says agriculture has substantially declined in the last two years due to insecurity. “Agriculture was better before Comprehensive Peace Agreement because inter-tribal clashes were few,” Yor Chol observed.
EDUCATION AND HEALTH
There are nine (9) primary schools in Khorfulus and one secondary school in the semi-autonomous Atar area. There schools remain closed this year due to insufficient staffing. “There are between 20 and 25 teachers out of ninety (90) expected teachers in the field out. The schools are poorly staffed and this has greatly affected teaching,” he said. Mr. Chol hails State Ministry of Education for improvement in the education system saying: “All children now go to school and this was not there before CPA.” He however, held the Ministry responsible for low number of teachers and call for an action.
“We mobilized the local population on personal hygiene and children death rate has reduced,” Commissioner Yor Chol responded when asked to compare and contrast health facilitations before CPA and after. The next plan Khorfulus County has is to extend clinics to Payams primarily through a mobile clinic, he claims. There are four health centres ran jointly by Government of South Sudan Non-Governmental Organisations in Khorfulus County.
Addressing insecurity, Chol says a fresh peace conference is underway between Atar and Khorfulus. External criminals from Lou Nuer areas will be part of the peace talk between concern chiefs to avoid extended conflicts, he noted.
The County, isolated for much of year seasons, has been widely volatile as communities fail to agree on County name, headquarters location and distribution of government positions. A truce reached last year never yield since it was not attended by many intellectuals, the Sudan Tribune has learnt.
(ST)