S. Sudan: Plan International boosts food security among returnees

April 25, 2011 (JUBA) – Plan International, a global child rights organisation has stepped up efforts to provide food assistance to hundreds of South Sudanese returnees, the majority of whom returned from north Sudan, ahead of southern independence.

In July of this year South Sudan will officially declare the independence the South Sudanese people voted for in January. The plebiscite took place in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which was signed in 2005, ending more than two of civil war between north and South Sudan.

Fikru Abebe, Plan’s South Sudan director said the exercise, which entails the distribution of cereal and bean rations to returnees will target children and women facing severe food shortages. The initiative, which began in region’s Central Equatoria state, has been earmarked to extend over a three-month period.

“Juba County in Central Equatoria state is considered to have severe cases of acute food shortages,” Abebe said, citing Rokon and Dolo payams [districts] as areas that require the organisation’s immediate intervention.

Plan International, its South Sudan director added, will in addition to providing food items will soon embark on a programme of seed distribution and the provision of farm tools as measures to boost agricultural productivity among returnees.

“We are currently providing food but we will soon start distributing seeds and farming tools as well as providing water, sanitation and hygiene services, education and protection of children,” Abebe said.

According to the UN, over 180,000 southerners recently returned from north to south Sudan. The majority of these returnees fled the region during the north-south civil war, where nearly 2.5 million people reportedly died and over 4 million displaced.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune, a returnee, only identified as Luwong said, “For the past three months, I and my four children have been living with my 60-year old aunt. Life has not been easy as we could barely get food to eat. These food hand-outs are a welcome relief. At least my children now have something to eat.”

Luwong, intends to venture into agriculture as a measure to increase food security for his family, courtesy of Plan International’s initiative to provide seedlings and tools.

(ST)
of Central Equatoria state, April 21, 2011 (Photo credit: Christine Foni)”]