Murle fishermen commend USAID for availing canoes

July 3, 2015 (BOR) – Nearly a hundred of river canoes (boats) distributed to the Murle community in Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have now changed the lives of the local population by increasing their fishing activities with good catch for cash, beneficiaries say.

James Mazee Korok, one of the recipients shared his happiness with Sudan Tribune journalist in Likuangole town last week when he explained that the USAID distributed canoes have resulted to large catches of fish unlike previous challenges.

“Now the local river is full, you cannot go fishing without a canoe. We used to suffer while fishing during this times of the year when the river becomes full of water, it becomes deep, the fish move to deeper parts of the river,” Korok narrated the previous experience.

“So with the canoe you can lay your fishing net or hooks at a situated location within the river while standing or sitting in it (canoe). This increases the number of fish we catch each day for sale,” explained the recipient.

USAID last month began distributing hundreds of canoes to the populations in the area, which used to be the centre of cattle raiders and rebellion by the community until last year when the rebel group led by David Yau Yau signed a deal with president Salva Kiir’s government, granting the area a special status under the presidency. But life continued to get harder as no significant budget was released from Juba for services delivery in the area, officials previously revealed.

In this locality, where bush meat is sold in the market, majority of people go for fish as they referred to it as being delicious and healthier than bush meat. The prices for each depending on the type and size of the fish, goes from 10 South Sudanese pounds (SSP10) to SSP50

Korok’s son, Recho, aged 14, he said, used to go fishing every day after his classes from Monday to Friday and full time fishing over weekend. The cash his family was getting, he said, helped him to meet the daily demands of the beneficiaries including medication for kids, his wife and relatives and animals at home.

“I am not employed here in Likuangole because I am not educated, but I am better than those who sit, waiting for salary which is never coming. Right now, I have saved little money for my son to go [to] school in times ahead when I find a good place for him in Juba,” explained the 60-year old Korok.

The locals called on the US government to provide more canoes to enable the communities have access to idle-abundant fish resources, ease transport across the rivers and transport some of the communities that were cut off from accessing the town market in Likuangole.

(ST)