Warrap authorities deny relief workers face harassment in communities

June 13, 2013 (JUBA) – Officials in South Sudan’s Warrap state have dismissed reports that humanitarian workers are suffering harassment in communities, despite claims by traditional leaders on Thursday.

A statement seen by Sudan Tribune and dated 14 May, cites a number of well documented incidents, including claims of physical and verbal attacks or threats, as well as an increase in administrative orders.

These included ordering relief workers to leave the area at short notice, otherwise their safety would not be guaranteed by the state administration.

“We are deeply concern[ed] that unusual practices have continued to occur in our area. The area has been witnessing activities which require immediate intervention from the higher level”, the statement, which bears the signature of chief Malual Juuk, reads in part.

“We have seen members of relief workers who are helping our government in the provision of essential services threatened and abused. Some of them have physically attacked and ordered to leave the area within short notice. This is raising a lot of concerns and affecting commitment to providing services and we call on the government to intervene”, the statement adds.

Juuk, who issued the release on behalf of the 24 traditional leaders in Twic county, has expressed displeasure at communities over the continued harassment of personnel from non-governmental organisations operating in their areas.

There have also been reports that NGO staff have been verbally and physically attacked by local residents, including members of indigenous organisations involved in community sensitisation.

“We have been receiving these negative reports levelled against our subjects and we are not pleased with the development. These NGOs operating in our communities have not come over to grab our land or families but to work with us in developing our areas”, the statement said.

Incidents of harassment have been documented in Wunrok village, with Juuk disclosing that there are further reports that individuals in other villages and towns have also been harassing NGO personnel.

“It is expected that we traditional leaders should be in the forefront to protect the wellbeing of NGOs that are operating in our respective villages but that’s not the case with some people. This attitude is wrong and unacceptable”, he said, adding that NGOs are helping supplement the government’s own initiatives to develop communities across the country.

“NGOs have been carrying out a tremendous job in the development of our communities and therefore, I see it as inhuman to learn that some NGO officers are being verbally and physically confronted by local people in communities [they are] operating from”, he said.

He said friction between NGO personnel and community men in villages came amid rumours that some organisations, particularly those promoting women’s rights, have been encouraging women reportedly suffering gender-based violence to divorce their husbands.

He vowed that those found to be harassing workers would be punished. He also appealed to the government to initiate programmes aimed at sensitising people, particularly in rural areas, about the role and importance of NGOs in their communities.

“Our people need to understand the importance of having NGOs operating in communities. For example, we have NGOs that are offering us with health, education and water and sanitation facilities free of charge”, he said.

Juuk also disclosed that he had reserved land specifically for NGOs that intended to operate within his area.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Thursday, Twic county commissioner Malek Riing Mathiang dismissed the reports, claiming he had no prior knowledge of harassment in communities.

“I have no information. No chief has ever come to me with the reports about this. This is the first time I am hearing it but we will do our best to find out what we can do to establish the fact”, Mathiang said.

He said he was aware that some villages where there are NGOs operating have been targeted by cattle raiders, although this has always been treated as isolated incident.

(ST)