Jonglei returnees pour into Bor to participate in census
By Philip Thon Aleu
March 31, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) — Over five hundred internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to Jonglei after a long spelt in Diaspora on Sunday March 30 and ready for the fifth Sudan Houses and Population Census.
A convoy of fifteen trucks, carrying IDPs from Lobone, Magwai county – Eastern Equatoria state in Southern Sudan, stormed Jonglei capital – Bor town with drums beat singing songs of praises and proceeded to Baidit payam, twenty miles north of Bor town.
It is the first time, in more than twenty years, for some IDPs to see their motherland thus evitable to praise God. ‘leecku Nhailic..,’ a course of Christians hymn in Dinka dialect meaning ‘let praise God..’
The IDPs, mainly from the Bor community, left their homes in late 1992 and early 1993 after a tribal conflict sparked by the South-North civil war that relieved Bor of cattle dominated economy, losing thousands lives lost to starvation and related problems thereafter. Others left Bor in early 1980s.
The fifth Sudan housing and population census is set to start on April 15 and expected to continues for two week. Counting one at his/her motherland is greatly valued since sharing of wealth and power will be based on the forth coming census.
Jonglei has being receiving her citizens from Kenya, Uganda and other parts of the Sudan increasingly this year than ever. IDPs from Bumuri, Kajokeji County in Central Equatorai state arrived last week and more are expected.
The IDPs are dogged to settle in their villages ready to be counted. International Organization for migration (IOM) is facilitating the transport in conjunction with South Sudan Relief Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC).
(ST)