South Sudan pledges assistance for “war disabled” soldiers
By James Gatdet Dak
July 29, 2008 (JUBA) — The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) held a workshop in Juba on Tuesday aimed at organizing and establishing a Southern Sudan War Disabled Association (SSWDA) to play a significant role in catering for various needs of the war disabled persons throughout Southern Sudan.
Present at the workshop was a group of war disabled soldiers representing a cross section of the war victims in Southern Sudan.
While officially opening the workshop, Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny assured the war disabled soldiers of the GoSS commitment in its policy since formation in 2005 to meet the welfare of the war victims.
He told them that the SPLM-led government would not forget those who were wounded and disabled while fighting the war. “Those who are now running the Government of Southern Sudan are the same people with whom you fought side by side during the liberation struggle and could not forget you,” Machar told them.
Machar further appreciated the sacrifice of the war victims during the struggle, saying they were almost killed by sustaining wounds that led to disability and that their welfare should be looked after.
The Vice President pointed out that GoSS has budgeted for war victims, adding that there were registrations and screenings going on in various concerned institutions including the army to categorize those affected by the Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-integration (DDR) programme.
He said lists of such categories are supposed to be presented to their relevant respective independent Commissions to execute their programmes.
Machar lauded the formation of the Association in coordination with the concerned government institutions as an important step towards empowering the war disabled soldiers to achieve self-reliance.
He reiterated GoSS’ support to the initiative which he said would initiate income-generating projects that would be used for resolving other pressing issues of the Association members.
He advised them on the need to establish branch centers at County and Payam levels in all the ten states of Southern Sudan.
On her part, the Minister of Gender, Social Welfare and Religious Affairs, Mary Kiden Kimbo, who was also the chief architect behind the initiative to form the Association, said it was one of her Ministry’s roles to help organize such initiatives that would promote the welfare of the people of Southern Sudan.
The Secretary General of the Government of Southern Sudan, Mr. Abdoun Agau urged the war disabled soldiers to work collectively as a team in order to achieve their desired objectives and goals.
Agau assured that the participation of the high level government officials in the workshop indicated the seriousness and commitment of the Government towards achieving the welfare of the war victims.
MISSION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
As a civil society and syndicated organization initiated by Southern Sudanese war disabled soldiers, the Association in accordance with its Draft Concept Paper says all Southern Sudanese war disabled soldiers from 1955 to present, irrespective of which army group they associated themselves with, are liable to benefit equitably and fairly in this Association by collectively improving their socio-economic activities.
The objectives of the Southern Sudan War Disabled Association (SSWDA) according to the Draft Concept Paper is to organize reformatory centers across Southern Sudan for the war wounded soldiers in collaboration with the concerned government institutions and available non-governmental organizations.
The Association would also mobilize and organize for micro finance loans for the war disabled soldiers to establish small businesses in achieving self-reliance.
SSWDA would also approach donors to fund projects initiated by the grass-root organized groups in Southern Sudan.
The Association shall embark on empowering its members by learning skills that include tailoring, arts and crafts, plumbing, carpentry work, weaving, blacksmithing, bricklaying, computer skills and simple mechanics and electronics maintenances, among others.
(ST)
Henry Makuei
South Sudan pledges assistance for “war disabled” soldiers
That is another move and reality of full committment of GOSS to serve her own citizens. I one time visit Narus eastern Equatoria (2006)and found wounded heros recieving their salaries and I was happy with the government concern with disabled people. lucky are they who suvuive the war and their government is not forgeting them, lucky are southern Sudanese who have their government that love and care for them. I have never heart of northen government talking something possitive about their wounded heros and this means alot to me and I have to ask myself and other compatriots, who are these wounded heros from the north? are they Arabs or black Africans? anyway common sense told me long time ago that wounded heros from north were southerners and Darfur who fought their own brothers and now that war is over, Arabs don’t want them any more. I will still request GOSS to welcome them and make them Southern Sudan wounded heros, welcome them like a prodical son. I still appreciate SPLM/A leadership to continue with the spirit of progress not of retrogress.
Ballarat University,
Australia.
Grader
South Sudan pledges assistance for “war disabled” soldiers
Dr Machar deserves praise for his recent initiatives in making South Sudan a hospitable place. His last major news, briefing the Nuer members of the South Sudan police force was first-class and those who criticised him were utterly in the wrong. For a second time, our Vice president is on the headline with something good for our wounded brothers and sisters and the entire South Sudan at large.
Good work Dr ‘Guandit’ if you continue on that line, I believe you’ll be surprised by how in a short time you can become popular amongst the masses of South Sudan. Even those that critical of your activities can join your camp if you represent our interests fairly as South Sudanese and not based on our tribal differences. You’re on the right path and keep it up …
Also I’ve to thank the elusive Gatwech for refraining in the recent months from controversial topics that touched on our VP and how he used to represent his views plainly on the forum. But I a word of advice for ‘Kim Deng’ please follow the example of the past commentators because your contribution is going to prove ineffective politically for Dr Riek in the long term continue portraying him as a Nuer leader but a South Sudanese leader who is a Nuer by birth.
Long live the unity of South Sudanese! Long live SPLA/M! Long Live Salva Kiir! Long Live Dr Riek! and Long Live to all of us!!!
Daniel Kalaka
South Sudan pledges assistance for “war disabled” soldiers
Anyway! that was not still the realy stracture of moving toward developtment,thousand of lebrator is still negelected and VP trying to decieve that those who are work side by side are lebrator which big lie instead airing the point.
Nevertheless,that is about war victims and what is the solution for those one’s moving on streets jobless which had create the big economic gap of developtment .Moreover ,Goss has to examine the position of those economist becoz most of them knows only to allocate the resource but to distribute it the problem.That is one step we can consider Mr VP and I apprecaite that initaitive you have took not forgot our beloved one’s lost their body part during lebration.