Action by Churches Together (ACT) International becomes increasingly
concerned at the reports of fighting in western Bahr el Ghazal, South
Sudan, in the area of Raga and Wau. The fighting between government
forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the military
wing of the opposition movement in the South, has caused massive displacement.
An estimated 30 to 50 000 people (IDPs) have fled from the fighting
and are in need of emergency aid.
As ACT member Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) reported, 25 000 people
were heading for Ed Dhein and another 9000 for Kafia Kingi and Boram.
The council wants to assist in the transport of the most vulnerable
refugees to safe places and help the IDPs with food. According to
SCC the help most urgent needs are: transportation of the stranded
displaced, shelter and food.
Adding to the severe situation is the food shortage caused by three
years of severe drought. According to the World Food Programme (WFP)
600,000 Sudanese are affected by the drought. The fighting is bound
to hamper Operation Lifeline Sudan, which is airdropping or airlifting
food from Kenya to the conflict-ridden south of Sudan. Therefore the
situation could rapidly develop into a major food crisis.
On June 13 Caesar Mazzolari, the Catholic bishop of the Diocese of
Rumbek, arriving from Raga, which the SPLA captured from the government
on June 2, is quoted by "Sudan Focal Point" as saying that the humanitarian
situation in the affected region is "very desperate". Mazzolari added:
"My first appeal is for food to be dropped at Raga to help attract
the desperate civilians now scattered in the surrounding areas to
return to their homes. I have seen the place and can confirm that
there is so much suffering. I appeal to all people of goodwill to
seize the earliest opportunity to help save as many lives as possible."
