About 55,000 people live in Yei, a war-torn area of southern Sudan. These are people who for lack of better alternative have chosen to brave the brave of war instead of going to live in refugee camps. Many of these people have had all their valuables taken away from them by gun welding people. They are now destitutes who have to struggle to keep alive.

The majority of the people in Yei are women and children who in most cases are not able to move the long distances to the camps. They have been neglected and face many problems including sexual assaults and torture. They also lack food and medical care.

According to Mr. Celestine Portu Wuka, one of the Payam administrators, the only areas which have received some relief food are in Mangolotore and Bamure. This food was last issued in February.

Although the people of Yei could resort to crop farming they unfortunately lack seeds and farm equipment. Worse still there are so many landmines that were planted in what should be the farming fields that it is not safe for the people to till the land.

The medical centres are poorly equipped. They lack beddings, power, water and drugs. The people have resorted to the use of herbs for local ailments and those who develop complications simply die.

The condition of Yei hospital was made worse due to the bombing by Antinov planes in March this year. During this incident two blocks which housed the laboratories, the Doctors’ office, the outpatient department and the former Tuberculosis and leprosy departments were destroyed. The blast also killed 7 people in the Hospital compound.

Most school buildings have been devastated by the civil war. As of now Yei has no secondary school. The few primary schools lack teachers and scholastic materials. Lessons are conducted under trees and the pupils sit on logs. Their laps serve as the tables when it comes to writing. During rainy seasons the school have to close.

For livelihood the situation is compounded further by the numerous anti-personnel landmines which have been sown all over the bushes and bush tracks. These pose serious restrictions on the people’s movement in search for the much needed food, firewood and water. The livelihood of the people which is very dependent on crop farming and small scale trading has been affected. Mr. Guangara, one of the Payam administrators from Ombachi in Yei said that the attacks are a deliberate policy of government to keep the people of the south backward by reducing their potential to develop.

About 80% of the women in this conflict area of Yei have not gone to school. The women and the girls are made to stay at home all the time to carry out household work. Miss Oba Cicily, a member of one Youth organization explained to SHRA that the thinking of most people in Yei is that the purpose of a girl child is to raise dowry for the home. And for this sole purpose she does not have to be educated!

The women are even denied opportunities to attend meetings, workshops and seminars. They have been relegated to staying at home to take charge of domestic cores.

The orphaned children are the most under privileged and frustrated. They lack parental care and child abuses are very rampant in the communities. Many are over loaded with work, resulting in poor growth, psychologically, socially and physically.

INSIDE:

Life in the Sudanese Refugee Camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Conditions in the War Torn Areas of Yei in Sudan

Plight of the Disabled in War Torn Areas of Sudan

Prisoners of war in the War Torn Areas of Yei

Repeated Attacks Make Adjumani Refugee Camp Insecure

The Role of Civil Society in Conflict Resolution

The Sudan Conflict: The Causes and the Attempts at Resolution

Famine Ravages South Sudan

A Standard of Achievement For all People to Aspire For Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The International Bill of Human Rights

SHRA ORGANISES A PERSONNEL TRAINING SEMINAR

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The Sudan Monitor is published by:

The Sudan Human Rights Association (SHRA)
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