Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Unity State has procured over 20,000 bags of sorghum from Sudan to feed the area’s internally displaced persons. The Governor of Unity State, Joseph Manytuil Wecjang, said the food items would help mitigate the impacts of floods on local communities and the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The Executive Director of Rubkona County, Gattiek Both, told the state-owned media, South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation (SSBC), that the 13 trucks carrying food have arrived in the state.
Gattiek said the state government was tirelessly working to address food insecurity as the state has a constant influx of displaced persons. He added that floods had destroyed crops, exposing the local communities to hunger and starvation.
The statement from the office of the governor indicates that over 50 per cent of the population in the state has been displaced by floods, that Bentiu hosted over 30,000 IDPs, and that they are residing in three camps: Bilnyang, Kuermadoke, and Bimruok.
Call to action
Nearly two weeks ago, Dr Manytuil presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the State Transitional Legislative Assembly (STLA), where he directed the lawmakers to work towards peace by serving the interests of the citizens. He said the mandate of the MPs was to propagate peace, reconciliation and unity among the people.
”In our endeavours to meet the aspirations of our people, let us leave behind the memories of bitterness and let us instead focus on doing what is expected of us as a government of the people. Our people need peace, reconciliation, and the delivery of quality services that can only be achieved through peace and reconciliation, “he said.
Concerted efforts
The governor stated that the former Northern Liech State, Southern Liech State and Liech State of SPLM/A-IO had been working collectively in the dissemination of peace and reconciliation in the state since 2020.
“These efforts were crowned by a rally in the then PoC, currently the IDPs’ Site in Bentiu, followed by the county to county peace rallies, and successfully concluded by the Leer Town peace rally that was addressed by the governors of the aforementioned states,” he noted.
“That shows the commitment of the parties to the agreement at the state level.” The peace rallies were reciprocal to the 30th August 2018 peace rally in Juba that was addressed by Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic, and Dr. Riak Machar Teny, the then Chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/A IO and the current First Vice President.”
He reiterated that the SPLM and the SPLM/A-IO had united to provide security and protection in the IDP camps. He added that some refugees had returned from the neighbouring countries and had settled in Bentiu.
Challenges
The governor said there was insecurity perpetuated by intra and inter-communal violence, revenge killings, and cattle rustling, leading to the displacement of youths.
“Insecurity in parts of the state is caused by armed youth [who have triggered] displacement, instability as a result of intra and intercommunal revenge killing and cattle rustling,’’ he noted.
“Possession of firearms by our civil population posed a huge security threat and jeopardised our efforts,” he said.
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