S. Sudanese in Diaspora pledge support for IDPs
April 12, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese living in the Diaspora have commended people of the Greater Equatoria region for their hospitality towards hundreds of the population displaced from Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity states during the crisis.
Fighting erupted in thee South Sudanese capital, Juba last year and spread to Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity states displacing over a million civilians, according to the United Nations. An additional 280,000 people have reportedly been forced in to neighboring Uganda, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia as a result of the conflict.
Meanwhile, South Sudanese in Australia have formed a crisis management committee under their leadership to coordinate donations with the national group.
The 10-member committee, a statement noted, will work through advocacy platforms to create social awareness on the gross humanitarian situation in South Sudan.
Louis Lobong, the Governor of Eastern Equatoris state vowed to work hand in hand with the crisis management committee in order to assist the thousands displaced.
In Canada, the Bor county community praised Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria for allowing displaced people to shelter and share local resources.
“As an association affiliated with the Bor County, we are pleading to you to continue to champion peaceful coexistence between Bor people temporarily displaced to and the local communities in your state,” Michael Reech Madit, the Bor community chairperson said in a letter addressed to the Governors of the Greater Equatoria regions.
The Alberta-based association also noted with concern tensions created as a result of cattle brought by displaced persons into farming communities of Equatoria and demanded the governors find a “fair solution; one that does not subject further insecurity and hostility and also address the concern of local farmers.”
Bor Dinka, displaced from Jonglei state to Equatoria in December, are cattle keepers while most people in Equatoria practice farming. In Eastern Equatoria state, indigenous Madi community, Nimule payam (district) demanded that the IDPs be resettled outside their land citing destruction of farms by the animals.
(ST)