REPORT AND URGENT APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FROM:

 

RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION - SOUTH SUDAN (RDC)

WESTERN UPPER NILE INFORMATION DESK

P.O. BOX 67413, NAIROBI, KENYA

Mr. Pal Pouk Machar, Executive Director

TEL: 011-254-2-572-463

and

ORGANIZATION FOR RELIEF AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (ORCD)

C/O: P. O. BOX 1056, NAIROBI, KENYA

Mr. Koang Tut Doh, ORCD Managing Director

EMAIL :  ktut2001@yahoo.com

 

 

The Western Upper Nile Information Desk (RDC) wishes to take this opportunity to appeal to the international community, donor agencies, OLS (Operation Lifeline Sudan) and the concerned people of the world to rescue the lives of these innocent people who are being annihilated by all parties to the conflict in Western Upper Nile region.

 

You are urged to contact South Sudanese Friends International, Inc. (SSFI) who will work with the Organization for Relief and Community Development (ORCD) office in Nairobi, Kenya to join hands in rescuing the lives of people in Western Upper Nile region. ORCD operates in these areas where people are displaced and has attached to this report an emergency appeal for $85,000 to supply life-sustaining, non-food needs. Your financial support is anticipated and highly appreciated in advance. God Bless you.

 

Thank you,

Pal Pouk Machar, Executive Director,RDC

 

TOPIC No.005- JULY, 2001

MORE THAN 150 VILLAGES BURNT DOWN IN RUBKONA COUNTY/ PROVINCE IN WESTERN UPPER NILE REGION

 

 1.0.   RUBKONA COUNTY HAS MERCILESSLY BEEN BURNT DOWN TO ASHES IN WESTERN UPPER NILE REGION:

 

 Rubkona County according to SPLM/A administrative structures or province according to SPDF and the government of Sudan (GoS) structures, is comprised of the Leek Nuer clan and Jikany Nuer clan of the Western Upper Nile with a varying population of about 200,000 persons for the Leek clan and  120,000 persons for the Jikany clan.

 

The people of  Rubkona province/county have suffered very much more than any other county or province in Western Upper Nile region due to fact that the county has always been the epicenter of  factional fighting in this region.

 

 Rubkona county is the center of Unity State local governments and as well as the Head Quarters (HQ’s) of all the foreign oil companies which are engaging in oil exploration and transportation of  crude oil to northern Sudan for export and refineries in El Obied and port Sudan for local consumption.

 

Rubkona province is the mid-point of all factional forces, militias and the government of Sudan armed forces. It is as well as the battlefield for all the conflicting parties including the foreign oil companies who are refueling and lighting fire on the existing long running conflict in the Sudan, whereas targeting the civil people of Western Upper Nile at the expense of oil production.

 

2.0.   WHO ARE THE PREPETRATORS TO THE DESTRUCTION OF RUBKONA COUNTY:

 

There are different forces who are involved in the destruction of this county/province and these include the following:- 

 

·      The government of Sudan armed forces (GoS) and its destructive air power.

·      Militia forces such as the GoS sponsored militias of General Paulino Matiep.

·      GoS popular defense forces (PDF), these are the Arab Bagara  of Messyria tribesmen of Western Sudan who are mostly encouraged by the GoS to resettle in those areas of  Western Upper Nile region..

·      SPDF forces under command of Commander Peter Par Jiek and Commander James liah Diu.

·      SPLA forces under command of Commander Peter Gatdeat yakah of  SPLA Western Upper Nile region.

 

3.0.   SEVERELY AFFECTED CLANS IN SUCH VICIOUS CONFLICT:

 

It is evidence that the whole of Western Upper Nile region has been destroyed and repeatedly burnt to ashes by the conflicting parties in Western Upper Nile area and most recently were Nyal and the whole of Nhialdiu district. However, Leek, Jikany, Bul and Dinka Panaruour (Pariang) of Ruweng County  “mainly constitute the front line clans who lives in the center of the Oil fields” and as a result, they usually became the victims of oil exploration, oil exploitation, building of bridges and cross roads construction which internally displaced the civil population into the wild bushes of Western Upper Nile region.

 

These clans also live in the center of factional battle fields, meaning that, it is where all factional forces usually meet and conduct their operation against themselves and therefore, the civil population is caught up in the middle of fighting and later on became the victims of such senseless killings between the factions by killing, maiming and displacing thousands of civilians of Western Upper Nile.

 

4.0.  DESCRIPTION OF HOW RUBKONA COUNTY WAS BURNT DOWN TO ASHES:

 

Rubkona county was subsequently or concurrently burnt down to ashes in February, March, April and May. It began with the burning of Nyal parish (OLS HQs) by forces of Commander Peter Gatdeat of SPLA Western Upper Nile. Whereas, combined forces of SPDF under command of Cdr. Peter Par Jiek, Cdr. James Liah Diu and Cdr. David Gatluak Domai of Koch and combined forces of Gos sponsored militias of General Paulino Matiep and the Gos PDF and its arm forces with heavy air cover collectively joint together and burnt to ashes Rubkona county under the pretext that it was SPLA Peter Gatdeat area of control. However, the question is why burning the whole county while leaving its inhabitant under trees without shelter and food?

 

5.0.        DESCRIPTION OF LOST PROPERTIES:

 

According to the eyewitness report from the field has described the situation as unbelievable, aggrieved, terrible and inhuman because what has happened had never happened and never been done before in the Nuer history.

 

It was confirmed that women and girls were raped, women and children abducted and civilian were intentionally killed and some were taken as war booties by their attackers.

 

Dwellings, grass houses or huts/tukuls/luaks has been burnt to ashes and left the civil population displaced under trees on open air and reduced them to nothing, cattle, goats, sheep and personal belonging such as clothes, mosquito nets, blanket, fishing equipment were completely looted or burnt in houses and destroyed by the attackers.

 

Grains (maize and sorghum plus other consumable crops) were intentionally burnt to nothing. Bore holes were scavenged or dug out from the bore holes, pipes cut to pieces and destroyed in Nhialdiu and left the town without clean drinking water. No nothing were left to this population of Rubkona county.

 

6.0. NAMES OF BURNT VILLAGES IN LEEK NUER CLAN:

 

As described above that more than 150 villages were burnt to ashes in Rubkona County for which many of these villages were burnt and destroyed mostly in Leek Clan and here are listed below as follows:

 

1.   Nhialdiu district HQs 2. Gezera 3. Kureut 4. Nyieng Gadeat 5. Padai 6. Dhorkan 7. Nyadogael 8. Barmalual 9. Nyawal 10. Kalsielli 11. Reayaa Deng  12. Bong juot 13. Koap 14. Wang-guar 15.Dhor-noor 16. Wang-jai 17.  Maan-ngoul 18. Reau 19. Bielcheer 20. Nyiroamnah 21. Jokgak 22. Nyakoang 23. Kot-chachai 24. Kuey 25. Biel-Dadoor 26. Bilbar 27. Keach-nyabellaw 28. Maan-walbar 29. Nguop Thoan 30. Guolkei 31. Toch-luak 32. Toarkil 33. Tharjieath 34. Waah 35. Kuershalli 36. Chotjook 37. Pibor 38. Chaalual 39. Wang-lok 40. Noungak 41. Choam barow 42. Kurjoklieth  43.Thok-yiershalleh 44. Wangtay 45.  Wichot 46. Keachnor 47.Rienydar 48. guolguol 49. shezah 50. Dopguei 51. Wangtuah 52.Thiet 53. Nguoza 54. Wangriaal 55. Guey-mayiel 55.Goang-goangnah 56. Wang Paz 57. Moah-hok 58. Wumliet 59. Toch-roor  60. Kothteat 61. Chieza 62. Rial-nyang 63. Thok yier nyin ngay 64.Kuochni 65. Boitong 66. Keach-cieng-madjak 67. Latkelep 68. Wathjak  69. Nyiechdeang 70. Kot-cieng dout 71. Wang-luali 72. Tharkaan 73. Tewl lang 74. Koung  75. Nyagoung 76. Kuerwar 77. Rierri 78. Liee 79. Tharcieng 80. Nordeang  81. Wang romni 82. Tharngoab 83. Thar yier tal 84. Bainydar  85. Thie  86. Thok yier Thichni 87. Kuei nyong 88. Itang 89.Weah 90. Wangjuod 91. Padaidig 92. Paloub 93. Kodnoor 94. Thar luoal 95. Kaljak 96. Bodang 97. Nyayean 98. Gol loom 99. Gaah  100. Barrar 101. Dhorbour 102. Juach 103. Boaw cieng nyapieer 104. Wunbod 105. Biemthok 106. Paranggah 107. Baryoak 108. Kailuoi 109. Nyabooli 110. Pakuor 111.Mankuai 112. Biel Nyang 113. Bieny 114. Dhor Kan 115. Ngoub Liew 116. Touge Yielli 117. Panyiany 118. Dhor bor 119. Kaigier 120. Bazjob 121. Guey Gatluak Chai 122. Boaw Chieng Wour 123. Nyieng gou 124. Nyie 125. Nyakong 126. Moa hou 127. Chany 128. Nohon 129. Doiy doiy 130. Biel Dadour 131. Kai 132. Napyiet 133. Tochluak 134. Chot thiang 135. Luak 136. Touraley 137. Wich Thak in Thiang 138. Tour Kech 139. Toar Kil 140. Wang Dhoulli 141. Chot Chara 142. Woang toah 143. Mathiang 144. Lodhna 145. Goang goanghi 146. Golgolli 147. Kah Ker 148. Golnyang 149. Reir 150. Nyaluk. 151. Womlit 152. Wichok 153. Thou 154. Kotjok 155. Nyagarang 156. Keachnoor 157. Tochrier 158. Tochloka 159. Ladkelep.

 

7.0. LEEK INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN RUBKONA COUNTY:

 

Leek population were internally displaced into four directions namely:

 a). Internally displaced to Bul areas i.e., areas controlled by Cdr. Peter Gatdeat of  SPLA Western Upper Nile.

b). Internally displaced to Jikany areas, SPDF areas and particularly to Nimine relief center; and about 12,000 IDP’s were reported from Nimnie.

c). Internally displaced to GoS of  Bentiu town.

d). Internally displaced to old Leek, these areas are partly control by militia group of Paulino Matiep, GoS and free land which are not accessible to neither GoS nor militias and rebel forces (the old Leek residential areas) which were left in early 80s when the current war started.

 

Humanitarian access can only be found through SPDF areas of Nimnie and SPLA areas of Bul county such as Tam, Buoth and Wechok airstrips. It is difficult for Operation Lifeline (OLS) southern sector to assess them through GoS side of Bentiu town nor the militias side except by OLS northern sector. Meanwhile the newly re-established areas of old Leek do not have airstrips.

 

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Applying Organization : Organization for Relief & Community Development  (ORCD)

 

Project Title : Emergency Shelter and Non - Food Items

 

Code : S- SUD - 00 / ESNF001

 

Time Frame : As soon as possible

 

Goal :To resettle internally displaced persons of Rubkona County                   

 

Applying to : South Sudanese Friends International, Inc. (SSFI), USA

 

SSFI Contact Person : Isabel Hogue, Treasurer

 

Legal Status : ORCD is a registered organization under Section 10 of the Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act NO. 218/051/99137B/1589 in Kenya.  NGO Bureau. SSFI is a 501 (c) 3 charitable nonprofit corporation registered in the United States. ID No. 35-2065118.

 

Project Location  : Nimnie,  Rubkona County (Western Upper Nile, Sudan)

 

Population Estimates : 12,000 Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP’s)

 

Funds Requested  : US $  85,000

 

ORCD Bank Account Information  :  Standard Chartered Bank, Kenya Limited.

West Lands Branch,Nairobi                        

C/O: Mrs. Tabitha Matthew Mathiang

Account No. 01501-353749-00      

 

ORCD Contact Person  : Mr. Koang Tut Doh,

ORCD Managing Director

P. O .Box 1056 Nairobi, Kenya

Tel:254-2-572563/ Mobile 0733-816677

E. Mail: ktut2001@yahoo.com                       

 

Date of Submission: July, 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.0. Background information and Justification

 

Western Upper Nile region (WUN) has been racked and torn apart by a dreadful devastating conflicts in this region which includes the most relentless civil war in the country between South and North Sudan, furthermore being complicated by internal conflicts among the rebel movements rivaling over control of  Western Upper Nile.

 

From September 1997 to date, Western Upper Nile has been and still remain in turmoil and bloodshed within rank and file of the rebel forces i.e., the people of Western Upper Nile alone on one hand and the government of Sudan (GOS) armed forces with its heavy aerial bombardment, helicopter gun ships, ground offensives together with its associated militias from WUN under the command of renegade General Paulino Matilp Nhial on the other hand and the most disastrous impact of the oil exploitation in Western Upper Nile region.

 

All these forces collectively caused a massive displacement of the civil population of WUN, enormous loss of life, huge disruption of livelihood, extensive violation of human rights, burning, looting and destruction of crops and dwellings, cattle/livestock taken as war booties by both sides to the conflict, abduction of women and children into servitude and coercive conscription of child soldier into rebel and government armies.

 

All civil structures and institutions are completely destroyed.  As a result of these continuous insecurity and absence of peace in this region, all international NGOs which were operating in these counties had to withdrew their personnel and essential resources by the end of 1997 and early 1998.  MSF-H was in Duar in Jikany County, MDM and ADRA were in Mankien in Bul County and Cosv was in Nhialdiu Leek County. 

 

Consequently, these counties are totally abandoned without basic or minimal humanitarian assistance except on hit and run basis by UNICEF and WFP once a lull in fighting is reported. ORCD is coming up to exert its efforts in trying to alleviate the suffering of these innocent war affected people of WUN region by delivering to them the basic relief items in areas of humanitarian high risk and needs.

 

ORCD shall also initiate developmental activities in order to:

·      Create an enabling environment for people-centered development

·      Empowering the community for self-reliance

·      Promoting broad-based and equitable growth

·      Enhancing household food security

·      Improving access to basic infrastructure and social services

·      Promoting job creation and sustainable livelihoods

·      Expanding social protection for vulnerable groups of people in the society

·      Achieving gender equality and the full participation of women  in development

·      Preserving, maintaining and regenerating the natural resource base and not depending from outside resources.

 

2.0. Project Objectives

·         To resettle the internally displaced persons of Rubkona county.

·         Restore hope of life on these communities.

·         To cover the most vulnerable persons with clothes and provide cooking utensils and fishing equipment.

·         To enable them restore their coping mechanism.

 

3.0. Requested Items by the local community

·         Plastic sheeting / Tarpaulins

·         Blankets

·         Mosquito nets / cloth

·         Cooking pots/Utensil - plates (plastic)

·         Water containers  - basins

·         Fishing hooks

·         Fishing Twines

·         Used clothes all gender, all ages (young and old).

·         Salt

·         Khangas or sheets for ladies (to make dresses).

 

 4.0.                Monitoring and Evaluation

·         The impact of this project shall be assessed by comparison of its results and its initial work plan as intended for the project itself.

·         Specific routine and regular monitoring visits and follow-up meetings after completion of  planning shall be one of the monitoring and evaluation methods.

·         Written reports and record keeping.

·         Encouragement of monitoring visits by facilitators and donors to project location.

·         Discuss the progress and constraints of the project with the community leaders and the local authorities.

·         Provision of remedial measures on the failures/short-comings and difficulties to the implementation of the project

·         These items will be distributed in the intended locations in the present of ORCD leadership and report back to the people who provided these resources.

 

5.0. Essential  Elements of Risks and Potential Assumptions

5.1. Freight

Expenses for transporting materials to location of program is extremely expensive.  First of all, there is the expense of shipping materials from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi if supplies are coming from abroad.  Added cost is transportation from Nairobi to Lokichoggio by land, a distance of about 900 kilometers over very rough deeply pot-holed roads with an armed escort, due to incidences of armed tribesmen raiding and looting the vehicles.

 5.2.                Air transport

In order to reach these supplies and material into Western Upper Nile (WUN) region they must travel by air since there is no coherent road system from Kenya to this region. This kind of transport is only by chartered aircraft and the total cost for this is very high at approximately US $ 4,500 per one trip per a small plane of three tons, from Lokichoggio Northern Kenya to Western Upper Nile.

 5.3.                Personnel Transport

The cost of transporting personnel from Nairobi to Lokichoggio - South Sudan (WUN) and vice versa is also costly and all by air. Nairobi - Loki at about US $ 150.00 per one ticket and Loki-WUN at about US $ 750 per ticket.

 

6.0. Financial  Summary

 

Budget Items                                           Cost in US DOLLARS   

 

Non Food Items                                                       45,000

 

Transport cost, Nairobi Loki by land                      13,000  

 

Transport cost Loki - Nhialdiu by Air                     27,000             

 

Total funds requested                                           85,000

 

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