UN mission protests demolitions of housing in Juba
May 25, 2009 (JUBA) – Demolitions of residential areas in Juba have left upwards of 30,000 people displaced, the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said in a statement of protest today.
The UN body called on the Government of Central Equatoria, which is responsible for the town although it is the capital of the Government of Southern Sudan, to provide alternatives to people who have lost their homes.
Governor Clement Wani Igga had warned in January that the demolition of squatters’ residences would begin by the end of the month. Bulldozers and security forces were involved in the demolitions.
The areas targeted are predominantly occupied by citizens from other states who put up illegally in those areas and could not legally obtain plots because of unsettled misunderstandings over the issues of jurisdictions and land ownership among different levels of government and local communities in Juba. Many of the former residents are reportedly left in poor sanitary conditions and some are still living atop the ruins.
“UNMIS is concerned that implementation of the Government of Central Equatoria’s plan to improve living conditions in Juba has not been done in a manner which is consistent with southern Sudanese law and international human rights standards,” said the statement. It added that these human rights standards include notifying tenants of the demolitions ahead of implementation, publication of the eviction exercise, consultation with affected communities, provision of alternative land, access to adequate housing, compensation, and the possibility of residents to challenge the decision.
According to UMMIS, most of these standards required under Southern Sudan’s laws have not been met. Thus the UN called on the state government to immediately halt the demolitions.
Some reports had suggested that the demolitions left Bari civilians with nowhere to go, as they had fled their demolished homes in Juba only to be caught in violence touched off earlier this month with Mundari groups in villages in Jebel Lado.
UNMIS added that state and regional authorities should take “prompt and necessary steps to provide alternative land, adequate housing, access to basic services, and compensation to the large numbers of families who have been suddenly uprooted from their homes in the past four months.”
Town authorities have also targeted petrol stations for demolition, many of them foreign-owned.
(ST)
John Chol
UN mission protests demolitions of housing in Juba
It’s true that, The governor, Clement Wani should have give enough times to the citizens to prepare and look for where to settle before they get permenant plots.
I urge Clement Wani, if he want to be a good leader, to adapt fair treatment of the citizens.I beleive that, the Bari are lenient to the people of south by granting them smooth stay in their land. And if they are being chased off un fairly, it wouldn’t work and it would be a shame on any one who do that.
All the citizens of south have the rights to be relacated if their homes had been dominished in process of nation building.I Thank the UNIMIS for protesting for the rights and fair treatment of the citizens in Juba.It’s also important to organise the south capital but it need fair and considerable manner.
Juba Lira
UN mission protests demolitions of housing in Juba
the only good peole are Dinka, let them demolite those house and if one day come for the Dinka house ot be taken down by those surveyers,Dinka will chase them like rats.
Look awhat happened in Thongping last three months, Dinka chased away those security plus Bulldozers in one minutes.
Juba lira in Juba
Baggaran
The report need both sides of argument
What is the reply from the city authority and from Governaer Wani Igga?
This report is only on one side.
Justin Chicago opiny
UN mission protests demolitions of housing in Juba
Southerners in Khartoum were complaining of being treated unfairly in the North when their homes are demolised.Now it is your own government doing it.Do you as citizens have respect for a government that has no respect for human right.We have a right as citizens to be treated fairly.Relocate those whose home have been demolised or they be given compensation.
Hillary B.M.L,M
UN mission protests demolitions of housing in Juba
I personally support that demolition because people just erecting their Houses (Rokubad) randomly even in state specific Institutions areas, but i slightly gone angry with Governor Major Gen.Clement Wani Konga not Clement Wani Igga of not giving those demolished people Shelters, this doesn’t make sense. Wani Konga, as i mentioned before is just a military man with no State Administrative capabilities, he need to be change with talented person who do and speak hisher mind and judgment.