Q&A about Jamam

I'm going back to Jamam next week. I'm a bit apprehensive about it to be honest; there are now 88 staff there working as part of the Oxfam 'scale up' for the Category 2  Emergency; in Jamam refugee camp there are around 32,000 people, and over 100,000 Sudanese refugees in Upper Nile state. 

It's been 4 months since I was there, and a lot has changed since then. There are permanent structures in our compound instead of tents, three more refugee camps in the area, and a bucketload more people fleeing fighting in Sudan. The place is under water from the rain, there's mud everywhere, emergency latrines are overflowing and there has been a suspected cholera outbreak. We are now awaiting the test results from Nairobi (which are, relievingly, likely to be negative).

A new site has been designated for the refugees from Jamam, called Gendrassa. Oxfam are currently drilling boreholes there in preparation for moving the people. Our focus is now on this new site and making sure everything is in order for the first arrivals.

I cam across the article below on the Oxfam website. It is now 3 weeks since it was written, so it's a bit out of date, and it is very Oxfam-centric - there are many other organisations working there such as UNHCR, ACTED, Goal, MSF etc - but I think it gives a good basic overview of the situation on the ground. It's helping me to get up to speed on what's happening there, given I've been out of the loop for a few months while working with the team in Rumbek. Gendrassa is a new addition to the 'new' camp of Batil described below.

Options running out for 32,000 refugees in Jamam Camp – July 4, 2012

by Janna Hamilton, Oxfam GB journalist

The situation in Jamam was already fragile, and is now critical. Conditions in the camp are the perfect storm for an outbreak of cholera or other water-borne diseases. There is simply not enough safe drinking water in the camp, and now the rainy season has begun, families’ tents are flooded and pit latrines overflowing, causing a dire health risk. As the rains get heavier disease is likely to spread. Oxfam delivers water and sanitation all over the world and conditions here are as difficult as it gets. 

Every effort must be made by the local government in Upper Nile, with strong leadership from UNHCR, to evacuate the 32,000 refugees from Jamam to new sites, which are safe from flooding and where adequate safe drinking water is available. The window is shrinking with which to relocate refugees before the rains make roads impassable and flooding overwhelms Jamam camp.

More than 35,000 new refugees crossed the border in May, fleeing conflict and bombing in Blue Nile in Sudan, and more than 10,000 are also expected to be on their way. A new site in Batil, 60kms from Jamam, is being prepared to accommodate Oxfam has supported the drilling for water in the new site. 

While we are doing all we can to prevent a cholera outbreak, continued coordination between humanitarian organizations is vital to ensure we are all ready with prepositioned stocks to respond as effectively as possible if an outbreak does occur. 

Oxfam has 88 staff (68 national and 20 international) now in Jamam responding to the refugee crisis.

Despite the challenges, Oxfam is:

o   Continuing to drill for new water sources in Jamam camp, as well as in the new site in Batil.

o   Building latrines to prevent open defecation and spread of disease.

o   Spreading vital hygiene messages to the refugee and host community on how to identify, treat and prevent the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

o   Stock-piling emergency supplies of water purification equipment, rehydration salts and soap to help contain the spread of cholera if an outbreak happens.

 The critical situation people are facing in the refugee camps is the human face of conflict – although they may have fled the fighting, they continue to have to suffer living in very desperate conditions. What these refugees need and deserve is for the conflict in Blue Nile to immediately end and long-term peace to be established, so they can go home in safety Refugees in Jamam want to go home, but they need security to do so.

Overview – Jamam Camp 

Jamam camp lies about 60 kilometres south-west of the Sudan-South Sudan border.  About 32,000 refugees currently live in the camp.  These refugees are from Blue Nile State in Sudan where conflict broke out last year between the SPLM-N rebels and the government of Sudan. Most of the refugees arrived in South Sudan in December 2011 – though most moved to Jamam in Jan/Feb 2012.

The refugees in Jamam face extreme challenges. The area faces critical water shortages, with very little groundwater available – not enough to support the influx of people. With the arrival of the rains, the camp is flooding, inundating tents and latrines, but this water is very unsafe to use is not treated.

In May, around 20,000 refugees were moved within Jamam camp away from their initial place of spontaneous settlement on a flood plain. Areas that have not flooded completely have been become extremely muddy and very difficult to live in during the rains, as water tends to sit on the surface of the ground, a high risk for both waterborne disease and malaria.  It is also now difficult to access inside the camp by vehicle and even on the roads, water trucking will eventually become impossible.

As a result, Oxfam has been calling for people to be relocated to a completely new site where more water is available. Relocation started late and slowly in May, however, so far only 4,000 of the original 37,000 in the camp have been moved to Doro refugee camp. Further relocations stalled due to resources being diverted to deal with new influx of refugees. Oxfam welcomes the latest commitment from UNHCR to relocate the 32,000 refugees from Jamam refugee camp to a second site in Batil and possibly a third new site. Every effort must be made by UNHCR to honour this and to urgently prepare a realistic contingency plan for what to do if cholera breaks, out or impassable roads, due to rains, prevent relocation.

There are about 5,000 people living in Jamam village who also need access to the same water sources. They have faced severe competition for resources, including water, that were already rare, since the arrival of the refugees. Oxfam is concerned tensions over competition for water is growing between the refugee community and permanent residents. 

Oxfam has four operational boreholes that are located between one and 30 kilometers away from the camp currently trucking into seven water tanks attached to tap stands mostly positioned close to the road that runs through the camp. These boreholes have been fitted with submersible pumps that pump almost 24 hours a day so Oxfam can try to keep up with demand.  But with water being extracted at a very fast rate, the water they provide is decreasing as ground water levels drop. 

Oxfam and other partners in the camp have been trying to drill for new boreholes to supplement the existing ones.  However eleven new boreholes have not produced a significant new source of water: only two produced any water at all and this was too little to make a meaningful contribution to Jamam’s water needs, with one source no longer even providing enough water for the hand pump initially installed. 

Humanitarian agencies have been trying to get larger rigs into the camp to try to drill deeper but their arrival has faced many delays. One additional rig has arrived and is in the process of drilling, but it is not as large a rig as initially hoped for and may not be able to drill as deep as needed to find water. There’s also a good chance that water deeper in the ground will be saline. 

In order to get the best chance of hitting water Oxfam has done a geological survey of the area and has reviewed this survey again. The area is known to be an especially difficult area to find good sources of ground water because there’s little rock and below the surface is mostly clay that does not allow water to flow through it. 

However, progress has been made with an additional borehole now available, increasing the average amount of water available from 6 litres in April to 8 litres per person per day.

Questions and answers

        Why are there such shortages? Why isn’t Oxfam providing more?

Water has always been problematic in the Jamam area: Oxfam has been working with the host community for three years and finding productive groundwater sources has always been a challenge. 

The influx of tens of thousands of refugees into the area has put enormous pressure on what little water there is available. Refugees continue to arrive and water sources continue to be put under more pressure. The situation is now critical. Oxfam and other NGOs have had teams of engineers and drilling rigs trying to find more water, and carried out geological surveys, but there is simply not enough available to meet the enormous needs.

Currently the refugees receive between 7-9 litres per person per day – far below international humanitarian standards of 15 litres per person per day.  This is only achieved by the use of trucking water into the camp from existing boreholes between 10-30 miles away, but rain is now making the dirt roads very difficult and slow to navigate. Trucks are getting stuck, delaying the urgent delivery of the limited water available to the camp. Even using the trucks, only about 16,500 people could get 15 litres per day, while there are around 37,000 people in Jamam in need of water, 5,000 host population and 32,000 refugees. 

This water has to be carefully managed and is only enough for cooking and drinking.  In surveys performed by Oxfam, refugees report having to make hard decisions, such as whether to use water for cooking or bathing, a choice no one should have to make. Illness is common in the camp because of a lack of water and the risk that this will get worse now the rains have arrived is very high, especially in children and other vulnerable populations.  

2.    If there is so much rain, why is there still not enough water for the refugees?

Dues to the rains, there is now a lot of surface water in the Jamam area, but when this water pools on the muddy ground it becomes very unsafe for people to use for cooking and drinking.  Hafirs (large ponds) in the camp have been a source of water for refugees – although this water is very unsafe if not treated and is likely to contain pathogens as cattle and goats also use the haffirs. Oxfam has setup pumps, tanks and operators to treat this water as a safe additional source of water for the population.

Oxfam is also providing rain water harvesting - where people use plastic sheeting to collect rain water, and they then treat the water with water purification tabs to make it safe for drinking.

3.    How likely is a cholera outbreak in the refugee camp?

The situation in Jamam is the perfect storm for a cholera outbreak. Extremely limited groundwater means people can only access between 7-9 litres of safe, clean water each day, but still only enough for cooking and drinking. While within emergency indicators, this is far below the international humanitarian standard indicator of at least 15 litres per person per day. 

The threat of cholera and other water borne diseases such as diarrhea and malaria is very real during the rainy season when people have a much higher risk of being infected by contaminated water sources. In Jamam, however, there are simply not enough safe water sources available to provide the recommended quantity to the 32,000 refugees to lower the risk of a cholera outbreak. Over one and a half Olympic sized swimming pools would be required every week for just the basic needs of the refugees. Moreover, if an outbreak does occur, 40 litres of safe, clean water per person is recommended to contain the spread of cholera within a family with a cholera patient – which is simply not possible given the limited water available.

4.    What is Oxfam doing to prevent a cholera outbreak?

In Jamam there is simply not enough water available to adequately reduce the risk of a cholera outbreak amongst the refugee population, particularly in the rainy season when people will live close to pools of contaminated water. 

To help limit a cholera outbreak, Oxfam has started chlorinating the water where possible it is delivering to the refugee community, and will increase chlorination if an outbreak does occur.

Preventing the spread of cholera, if an outbreak does occur, is straightforward: it requires good basic hygiene, like hand-washing and only drinking clean water, but this becomes more difficult if access to water and basic sanitation is limited. Oxfam is diffusing hygiene messages to the Jamam refugee community and the host community nearby on how to identify, treat and prevent the spread of the disease, especially dangerous to children and other vulnerable members of the population.  In addition Oxfam is rapidly constructing adequate communal latrine facilities.

This involves hygiene messages on the importance of hand-washing, and using the safe clean water they do have available for drinking and preparing food. Most of the refugees have fled from rural areas and are not used to living in crowded camp conditions where diseases can easily spread.

Oxfam, in partnership with the other agencies, also has contingency plans in place for a cholera outbreak, which includes:

·         Stock piling water treatment equipment and chemicals for emergency treatment of surface water such as ponds and dams in case the borehole and pipeline system breaks down.

·         Contingency stock for emergency sanitation infrastructure - in the event that we have to build elevated latrines in a flooded area.

·         Contingency stocks of chlorine and PUR (water purification) for emergency water treatment, plus soap for hand-washing.

·         Designated areas reserved in the camp for oral rehydration points. These are places where people know that they can go for rehydration when suffering from diarrhoea. 

5.    Are people showing signs of waterborne disease yet?

Forty per cent of all patients treated in Jamam’s health clinic were reported to be suffering from diarrhoea in June. (PLEASE NOTE this is not the same as 40 per cent of the population having diarrhoea) As a comparison, the population size in Doro and Jamam refugee camps are similar, and the number of cases of Acute Respiratory Infection seen at both are about the same, however, the number of diarrhoea cases is much higher in Jamam – a strong indicator of the impacts of limited access to water and sanitation in Jamam camp. 

Oxfam is disseminating hygiene messages to the Jamam refugee community and the host community nearby on the importance of hand-washing, and using the safe clean water they do have available for drinking and preparing food to prevent waterborne diseases. In addition, Oxfam has constructed nearly 1,000 communal latrine facilities – however, the recent flooding has led to the collapse of more than 100 of these, as no higher ground was available to construct the latrines in large parts of the camps. Oxfam is extremely concerned with the increased heath risk this brings.

6.     Why was the camp established in a place with too little water to sustain a refugee camp?

Refugees fleeing the conflict in Blue Nile initially settled close to the Sudan – South Sudan border, but moved to the Jamam area in December 2011 deeper into the South in order to get them away from the conflict. The area was partially selected because of the willingness of local chiefs and authorities to host the refugees, but Oxfam has been warning for months of the urgent need to find a more suitable site with better access to safe water.

However, as more refugees have arrived in Jamam, Oxfam and other agencies have not been able to source enough water to sustain them. The level of flooding that hit Jamam after several days of heavy rain at the end of June has also exceeded our previous expectations.

7.    Oxfam warned that 23,000 refugees needed to be relocated from Jamam to a new site with a more reliable water supply before the rainy season, did this happen?

In February and again in April, Oxfam sounded the warning that 23,000 refugees needed to be urgently moved from Jamam to another location with a more reliable water source, which would leave the remaining 16,500 refugees in Jamam with the recommended 15 litres of water per person, per day. Unfortunately, just as the relocation operation began in May, a new influx of 35,000 refugees arrived from Blue Nile state to transit sites close to Jamam.  As a result only 4000 people have been moved from Jamam since resources were diverted to the urgent needs of the newly arrived refugees.

We support UNHCR’s decision, in light of flooding and limitations in safe water supplies, to evacuate the entire population of Jamam, as soon as possible before further flooding and disease outbreaks put the population at grave risk. Oxfam urges that sufficient support, funding and expertise are deployed by all agencies involved to a successful evacuation this takes place.

8.    Why have refugees not been relocated in time?

Setting up a new camp, especially in a short timeframe is very challenging and expensive. Government needs to allocate a site, and UNHCR needed to move the refugees, and identify and fund partners to operate the camp. 

It takes time to identify an accessible site with adequate access to water in a secure location. This needs to be approved by the Govt. authorities and supported by the local community.  Site planning and setting up basic infrastructure also takes time. Moving up to two thousand refugees a day is an enormous challenge – trucks, way stations, security, food and water for the journey all need to be planned and pre-positioned. Given that Upper Nile is caught between conflict zones in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, it is also a challenge to identify a site that is a safe distance from a border and in a secure location. 

9.    Why has Oxfam been critical of the UNHCR response?

We feel strongly that aid and UN agencies should work together to address the huge challenges in Jamam. We have a firm commitment from the local government in Upper Nile, with strong leadership from UNHCR, that the immediate evacuation will begin of the 32,000 refugees from Jamam to new sites. Under incredibly challenging conditions, thousands of men, women and children must be evacuated as quickly and efficiently as possible, and this will require a focused coordination and collaboration from all agencies.

10.  Where are the refugees now going to go?

Batil has already received some 30,000 new arrivals from Blue Nile in the past month and is close to capacity. A new camp called Batil 2 has been identified by UNHCR as a suitable site for up to 15,000 people from Jamam – this is under development now, and we hope that people can start moving there within the next few weeks. There are variables outside of anyone’s control at this stage – how much rain will affect the roads and how many new refugees may arrive. Even if this is accomplished, it leaves nearly 20,000 refugees still in Jamam – and a third site will need to be urgently identified and developed for this population.  

11.  What is Oxfam's concerns, if any, with Batil?

Borehole drilling in Batil has been successful over the last month, and at this stage offers an viable location to resettle the ten of thousands in Jamam who are in desperate need of safe drinking water.  Batil 1 camp is close to capacity with the new influx having settled there. Batil 2 is going to be developed as a matter of priority and could take up to 15,000 refugees currently living in the flood plane in Jamam. 

Oxfam is still concerned about the need to prepare a third site for the remaining 18,000 people in Jamam and support UNHCR in its efforts to find such a site urgently. 

12.  Does Batil have enough water to meet international standards of 15 litres per day, per person?

At this early stage, borehole drilling in Batil is showing very positive signs of good ground water supply. 

13.  What will Oxfam be doing in Batil?

Oxfam has supported the drilling of boreholes in Batil with drilling rigs, staff, borehole consumables and supplies for water distribution. We will continue to support, as much as we can, the development of new water sources in Batil 2 and any other site identified. 

14.  UNHCR said they would relocate 16,000 in April, but didn't. Will this time be any better?

The recent flooding in Jamam has convinced all actors, including UNHCR, that Jamam 1 needs an "evacuation" rather than a "relocation". The risks of a major health disaster have become obvious to all - and the response has been unanimous and quick. We believe, and hope there is no going back on this decision. 

15.  In the event there's a cholera outbreak before a significant number of refugees are relocated, will relocation stop?

Yes - if there is a confirmed case of cholera in Jamam, it would be impossible and unethical to continue moving refugees (who possibly carry the disease with them) into another, unaffected population. Stock-piling emergency supplies of water purification equipment, rehydration salts and soap to help contain the spread of cholera if an outbreak happens is underway. 

16.  What is the current situation in Blue Nile?

The conflict in Blue Nile continues to force people to flee their homes. The latest UN report indicated fighting in Blue Nile escalated during June, with the most recent bombing reported on July 2. According to the FEWSNET early warning system there is currently a food crisis in Blue Nile, caused in large part by the conflict, displacement and poor harvest. Many of the refugees were farmers who had to flee their villages in the middle of the planting and harvest seasons. The price of staple foods such as sorghum has risen by 75 per cent from this time last year. Ultimately the only sustainable solution to the crisis is for a cessation of hostilities and a peace agreement in Blue Nile so that people can go home.

* * *

So there it is. Gulp.

... so what exactly is South Sudan celebrating?

Amidst the frenzy of celebration around South Sudan's one year anniversary, I've been getting increasingly saddened, depressed even, about what's going on in this country - as I read some of the recent news articles that have come out recently. 

It's difficult to see what this country has to celebrate – apart from actually making it to a year old.

Let me illustrate my point with some excerpts from said articles.

GENERAL

Viewpoint: South Sudan has not lived up to the hype

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18550314 

"Two kinds of problems confront the world's newest independent nation: Unresolved issues between Khartoum and Juba, and internal issues surround corruption, insecurity and the failure of leadership among South Sudan's ruling party, the SPLM.

The contested issues between Khartoum and Juba - border demarcations, the contested region of Abyei, the disputes over oil and the accusations of harbouring and supporting each other's rebel groups - have doggedly undermined the socio-economic and political development of South Sudan. 

Moreover, South Sudan has not lived up to its expectations because of rampant corruption and wanton mismanagement within the government. In the wake of the loss of oil revenue, the president was compelled to acknowledge that more than $4bn (£2.5bn) has been lost within the past seven years. 

The failure by the government of South Sudan to stem the cycles of violence and to eradicate corruption and tribalism has effectively stalled economic development and disrupted social lives. 

There is hardly any substantial investment in agricultural productivity, social facilities, infrastructure, trade or development. This failure has left more than half of the country's population at the mercy of abject poverty, chronic diseases and violent crimes. 

The United Nations Population Fund reports that South Sudan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. This is mainly due to the inadequacy of health care and educational facilities in the new nation."

It just goes on and on. If you want the full depressing story, go to the link. 

The Problem of South Sudan Diaspora – 19^th July 2012

 http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/7329/Default.aspx

A South Sudanese living in America writes: 

“There are many difficulties and problems that seem to justify why the Diasporas appear reluctant to return home after independence of the country. Among these are:-

1-       The despair and frustration of the way our SPLM Government is maiming and de-humanizing the same people they claim to have liberated.

2-      The shame of the international outcry and condemnation of our Government.

3-      The corruption, reign of terror, nepotism, tribalism, favouritism and opportunism – being the way our SPLM Government control their power – has become an alien culture to a people who have seen how the Free World of justice for all works.

4-      Like any refugees, they have no ability to repatriate themselves even if most of them may want to return home.

5-      Education of their children is a moral responsibility which they cannot comprise when they hear the schools are not working, especially the universities.

6-      Our SPLM Government sees the Diaspora as competitors for power; therefore keeping them out is the solution.

7-      The recent killing of South Sudanese American in Bor may add to their fears.

8-      Some diasporas are children of the martyrs who have become orphans; they may not return unless there is a Government-programmed project for them.

...

In conclusion, my advice to the Diasporas is that it would be self defeating to disown ourselves from our own country; it is our presence that can change things. We shall be abusing the hospitality of our host countries by being so apathetic and passive to allow our people to be oppressed by a small elite group in our country.”

ECONOMIC SITUATION, FOOD CRISIS, INFLATION...

South’s Sudan economy falters on its first anniversary

http://www.sudantribune.com/South-s-Sudan-economy-falters-on,43201

July 8, 2012 (JUBA) - A year after it attained independence, the new Republic of South Sudan is facing its worst humanitarian crisis since the end of the war in 2005, under the weight of severe economic meltdown and ongoing conflict, the international aid agency Oxfam have said in a report. The crisis, which is characterised by sky rocketing fuel and food prices, it warned, is likely to undermine long term and emergency efforts to help nearly half the population, who reportedly lack basic necessities for survival.

"Vital spending on infrastructure and services such as new roads, schools, healthcare and water systems is being slashed, as the country faces economic catastrophe. The price of food and fuel has reached unprecedented levels," says the report. “Inflation shot from 21.3 percent in February to 80 percent in May, pushing essential food and supplies way beyond the reach of ordinary people. Half of South Sudan’s 9.7 million people are facing food shortages – more than double the number last year”.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says more than 200,000 Sudanese refugees have fled the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states into South Sudan and neighbouring Ethiopia.

The report highlights the impact of an increase in hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan, saying it has severed trade, cutting off the vital flow of people, fuel and goods, thus affecting the ability of people to earn a living. Oxfam cites the situation in South Sudan’s Border States, where markets have reportedly become bare while prices for staple foods, such as a tin of millet, which feeds a family of five for two days, have quadrupled.

Also of concern, it says, is the value of the South Sudanese Pound (SSP), which has fallen against the dollar, leaving small traders unable to stock market shelves with imported goods, heavily relied upon by the new nation.

High commodity prices exacerbate existing poverty in South Sudan

http://www.sudantribune.com/High-commodity-prices-exacerbate,42812

In South Sudan the poverty line is about 73 SSP per person per month (JS: around USD $14). About 51 per cent of the population live below the poverty line in South Sudan. The average consumption of the poor is 39 SSP, while of those who are not considered poor, 163 SSP per person per month; a difference in consumption of 124 SSP. It is obvious that the poverty gap is wide. The poor consumes less than a quarter of what the rich consume, according to South Sudan standard. With rising commodity prices, the gap between the poor and the rich is set to widen.

In Juba metropolis, and indeed in any other town in South Sudan, commodity prices seem to increase daily. In a period of about six months, a kilogram of beef which was only 12 SSP is now 30 SSP, an increase of 150 per cent; mutton, which was 18 SSP a kilogram is now 40 SSP, an increase of about 122 per cent. In a period of about one month, a bag of five pieces of bread was 1 SSP but it is now about 2 SSP, an increase of 100 per cent. A pile of tomatoes that was 2 SSP is now 5 SSP, an increase of 150 per cent. A litre of diesel which was 2.5 SSP is now 6 SSP, an increase of 140 per cent. A bottle of cooking gas which was 70 SSP is now 140 SSP, an increase of 100 per cent. This is just a sample of commodity prices in the market to give a glimpse of what is happening in Juba market and what people are enduring.

CORRUPTION

Corruption in South Sudan Will Never Stop If Not Completely Outlawed

http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/7339/Default.aspx

“Corruption in the current South Sudan is easy to practice. It is not dangerous to embezzle public funds, for no punishment for stealing.  Instead, the corruption is rewarding. It is profitable and is an easy way to get rich quickly.  The society, as well, respects individuals who get rich quickly when appointed ministers or directors. 

From nowhere many ministers and well-placed government officials, within less than a year, would build themselves houses and earn businesses and fleet of cars.  The message is that: when in charge of government’s properties, steal or else you are considered a dummy if you failed to use your chance well when in position to do so. This makes corruption endemic and rampant. It is apparent that certain individuals and government officials who had nothing to start business with a few years back are now filthy rich. Government funds or projects are given to family members to do business with - when government officials are also legitimate shareholders of these businesses.

So, stealing has become many individuals’ profession in South Sudan.”

TRIBAL CONFLICT

http://www.borglobe.com/11.html?m7%3Apost=tribalism-most-dangerous-enemy-to-south-sudanese-than-khartoums-regime

Tribalism more dangerous enemy to South Sudanese than Khartoum’s regime

July 8^th: “Many of our loved ones have perished in the course of tribal feuding under the swords of their own brothers and sisters. If we really need the Republic of South Sudan to be a free and equal society, then it should be tribally free, but if it’s to be tribally free, it must remain free and equal to all South Sudanese regardless of their tribal supremacy or backgrounds. Once people start to believe that their tribes are superior than others’, then they could become very bigots they are supposedly to be against.

The Republic of South Sudan is comprised of massive self-righteous groups who would in many ways identify themselves as Dinka, Nuer, Murle, Bari, Acholi, Ding-Dinga, Anyuak, Taposa, Mundari etc. These groups hold their tribal hatreds to the stage where they would attempt to project all evils deeds - I mean anything which is deemed evil onto other groups. However, in this situation the right of reply or attempt at dialogue is refused, leading to a feeling of helplessness and anger among the accused groups.”

* * *

All of this gives you an idea of the mammoth task required to build this fledgling country. Of course, after so many years of war and ongoing internal and North-South conflict, this is going to be a very difficult, long-term, intensive process requiring honesty, persistence and commitment from South Sudan's leaders - and to my mind, the most difficult thing for politicians in this country to overcome - putting their country's interests above their own. 

But people are still happy to celebrate their country’s first birthday, and why shouldn’t they be? It’s just sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees.

Oxfam GB Press Release: One year on, South Sudan falters under failing economy

As the first anniversary of South Sudan's Independence Day approaches, the press releases start flowing ... here's Oxfam's, released today.

One year on, South Sudan falters under failing economy
Skyrocketing fuel and food prices deepen humanitarian crisis as country teeters on economic meltdown

One year after South Sudan’s independence on July 9, the young country is facing its worst humanitarian crisis since the end of the war in 2005, under the weight of severe economic meltdown and ongoing conflict. Long-term and emergency efforts to help nearly half the population, who don’t have enough to eat, could be derailed by an economy out of control, warned the international aid agency Oxfam.

Vital spending on infrastructure and services such as new roads, schools, healthcare and water systems is being slashed, as the country faces economic catastrophe. The price of food and fuel has reached unprecedented levels. Inflation shot from 21.3 percent in February to 80 percent in May, pushing essential food and supplies way beyond the reach of ordinary people. Half of South Sudan’s 9.7 million people are facing food shortages – more than double the number last year.

In South Sudan’s Upper Nile region, where Oxfam is delivering water and sanitation to refugees who continue to flee fighting in Sudan, inflation and conflict have forced fuel prices up by 111 percent. A 200-litre barrel of fuel now costs up to $1600, compared to $600 in January this year. One barrel used to pump water into Oxfam’s water tanks for the 32,000 people in Jamam refugee camp lasts just two days.

“The jubilation of independence is now tempered by the reality of a daily struggle to survive,” said Helen McElhinney, Oxfam policy advisor. “Some people are living on one meal a day and double the number of people are in need of food aid compared to last year. Refugees are enduring dire conditions in border camps with not enough water to go around. The Government of South Sudan must work with the international community to urgently put the fragile economy back on track to prevent the world's newest country from plunging deeper into a protracted crisis.”

An increase in hostilities since last year between Sudan and South Sudan has severed trade, cutting off the vital flow of people, fuel and goods, affecting the ability of people to earn a living. In border states, markets are almost bare and prices for staple foods, such as a tin of millet, which feeds a family of five for two days, have quadrupled. The value of the South Sudanese pound has plummeted against the dollar, leaving small traders unable to stock market shelves with imported goods, which the country relies heavily upon.

South Sudan is increasingly reliant on food aid. Yet with peace, a stable economy, and investment in its future, South Sudan would be more than capable of feeding itself, Oxfam said.

South Sudan is rich in fertile soil and water, but less than five per cent is cultivated. The years following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement allowed agriculture to flourish, and in 2008 what was then southern Sudan produced a bumper cereal crop due to good rains and government support, making it self-sufficient in its staple crop for the first time.

“South Sudan has the potential to feed itself, and could be a bread basket for the region. Instead, renewed conflict and severe economic downturn means more people face food shortages now than since the 2005 peace deal, which ended Africa’s longest civil war. We must not allow the large investments in agriculture, water, education and other services be undone by the economic crisis and increase in conflict. The longer this crisis drags on, the greater the risk South Sudan’s development will slip backwards, and its vast potential will be unrealised,” said McElhinney.

Oxfam called on the Governments of both countries, with the support of the international community, to refocus on the AU-led negotiations, and for donors to ensure that both immediate humanitarian and long-term development needs are addressed.
ENDS/

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Refugees and returnees in South Sudan
Conflicts in Sudan’s Blue Nile and South Kordofan states mean South Sudan now hosts 170,000 refugees, most arriving in remote and impoverished regions of the country that already struggle to provide for the local populations. Refugees continue to arrive in camps where aid agencies are already overstretched delivering urgent food, water and shelter. In addition, nearly 400,000 southerners have returned from Sudan to South Sudan since late 2010, putting further strain on scarce resources in one of the world’s least developed nations. Many of the returnees have lived most of their lives in the north and have faced multiple cultural, economic and security challenges on their return.

Evacuating refugees
Rains in Jamam refugee camp have made what was an extremely challenging humanitarian response, now impossible in some parts of the camp. The relocation of refugees from Jamam is now not only critical due to the lack of water to drink, but many refugees are still in a flood plain and tents have been flooded. We cannot guarantee people a dry place to shelter, nor avoid massive health risks from water-borne diseases in the coming three months. Oxfam has been lobbying since February for the relocation of refugees from Jamam camp to a new location before rains made transport too difficult, where people will have access to a safer amount of clean water to meet their needs. 

What Oxfam is doing in South Sudan
Oxfam has worked in southern Sudan for the past 30 years providing both humanitarian and long-term development aid, including water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, public health, sustainable livelihoods, food security and education programs throughout the country. We also work through local partners and civil society organizations including women's groups.

An amazing encounter with some incredible wildlife

I had the most AMAZING experience yesterday - my friend Ollie and I confiscated two baby leopard cubs from the Ministry of Wildlife and spent the day/night nursing them back to health. I'm still reeling from the shock of it all - and feel that it's not really happening. They are both female, and they're about three weeks old. Absolutely beautiful.

My good friend Ollie, manager of Safari Style Hotel, takes in antelopes, bush bucks, dik-diks and other wildlife into her care in the hotel compound. The wildlife officers often bring animals to Ollie because she knows how to take care of them. One of her staff also works in the Ministry of Wildlife, so he alerts her to the different wildlife that come in. On the weekend, he happened to casually show her a photograph of two leopard cubs that they had recently acquired, so Ollie went straight to the Ministry compound (which is right next door to us) to find out.

The story from the Ministry of Wildlife was that in the area where Southern National Park is located (but not operational), around a two hour drive west of Rumbek, some SPLA soldiers patrolling the area came across a leopard, who ran away when she saw them approaching. Afterwards, they heard the cries of the cubs in the grass, and went to investigate. They took them from their natural habitat (the worst thing you could do - the mother hadn't abandoned them!) and took them to a cattle camp, where they apparently survived for three weeks on cow's milk before being brought to the Ministry compound where they'd been for a week. Given their size, we didn't believe this story; in our eyes they only look like they were 3 weeks old. We also didn't believe that the soldiers had let the leopard run away; we think they killed her and then took the babies to be sold.

Leopards are extremely rare in South Sudan due to the war (hunted for food, driven away by fighting), hunting for their fur and their cubs (to sell as pets). They are apparently a unique sub-species that has evolved differently from leopard populations in other parts of Africa.

When Ollie saw the state they were in and the terrible conditions in which the wildlife officers were keeping them, she came to get me. The poor little critters were suffering from dehydration, malnutrition and diahorrea. The wildlife officers were feeding them every six hours - using unsterilised bowls, milk power (which lacked  the vitamins & minerals that humans need, let alone big cats!) mixed with cold water - through a very dirty-looking rubber glove. The idea was right, but the execution was poor. Given that these cubs are only about 3 weeks old, they need the right food administered in a hygienic way, as they are very susceptible to disease.

We were extremely worried they wouldn't survive the night, particularly the female who was extremely skinny due to dehydration and malnourishment, and very unsteady on her feet. The two of them certainly wouldn't have survived if we'd left them in the care of the wildlife officers who said 'oh, they're just cats' and were not prepared - nor able - to administer the regular care required to keep these rare animals alive - feeding every 2 hours with the right mixture of leopard-specific milk formula.

So we tried to convince them that we should take them with us and administer the proper care for them, to ensure they'd survive. While they weren't happy with this, they grudgingly admitted that they didn't have any money to buy the right food nor were they prepared to sacrifice the time and effort required to do so. When they said 'we don't work on Sundays, so we'll sort it out tomorrow', we got even more frustrated. In the end we promised that we'd take care of them so that they would survive the night, and to come back on Monday with the cubs. (ha! not likely)

Grrrrr ... these people are responsible for the country's wildlife, but they don't even know what wildlife is (except cows), nor how to take care of it! They didn't even understand what endangered or threatened means - nor that it is extremely important that such animals are given the highest priority for protection and care. The problem is that the Ministry has no capacity, medicine nor money to take care of any wildlife. They don't even know what half the wildlife are that they come across. In their compound are two small cages in which they keep a handful of baboons and a small red monkey, whom they let out regularly to roam their compound (and ours!) to forage for food. If they can't feed some baboons, how will they take care of two leopard cubs?! Their wildlife officers are not properly trained - nor have the knowledge - to know what to do. They are also missing another vital attribute - giving a shit.

So we took them away yesterday and started taking care of them at Safari Style. A bit of internet research found us a recipe for some special milk formula for leopards (egg yolk, milk powder, glucose and gelatin), which we syringed down their throats every 2-3 hours, as well as ORS to try and rehydrate them. We spent all afternoon doing this with these beautiful creatures. What a privilege. We continued through the night lat three-hourly intervals - 11pm, 2am, 5am and 8am.

action shot!

I'm now suffering from lack of sleep, am covered in scratches and bite marks, and I think the little critters slightly dislike me for such 'mistreatment' - but it was worth it. This morning they were lively bundles of fur! They are so gorgeous. I am in love!

    

 Ollie and her new charge                                          

       

Ollie ordered some probiotics from Nairobi, which will arrive on a plane today. We are hoping the vets in Kenya will also send de-worming tablets; the poor little guys aren't getting as many nutrients as they should because the worms are consuming them all! We may have to resort to human de-worming tabs. There is a vet in Rumbek who works for VSF (Veterinaires Sans Frontiers), and we got him to take a look at them yesterday. So far so good; we are doing the right thing for now. VSF deals mostly with bovine health, and doesn't have specialised medicines for domestic animals like dogs, let alone wild ones like leopards! 

At least our two charges are looking much healthier than they were. There is such a change in them from when we first found them at the Ministry. They have energy, they want to eat, they're exploring, playing and generally cruising around looking like fat, happy leopard cubs!

       

The next stage in the saga was the meeting with the Ministry that Ollie had this morning. The head of Wildlife Officers basically told her to bring the leopards back to them so that they can take care of them. But they said she should pay for all the medicine and food for them. Fuckers. They can't have their cake. If they're not prepared to pay for the care required, why should they be allowed to keep them, especially when they can't even demonstrate that they will do it properly?

Eventually, when they're big, the Ministry wants to keep the leopards in their compound in an existing house/cage, and charge people to come and see them. How bloody ignorant, selfish and money-hungry can you get. Keeping a male and female leopard together in a cage is madness - they'll kill each other, or escape from the compound and kill someone's cows, which will lead to them being killed. They might even kill a person. These are wild animals that shouldn't be locked up! They need acres of land for hunting. It just shows how little knowledge and care there is for wildlife here. Cows are the priority. No suprises really though - people here find it difficult enough to look after themselves, let alone wildlife - and wildlife provides a source of income if they kill them for their fur or their young to sell as pets.

So, what next? We're certainly not interested in keeping these beautiful creatures in a cage ourselves. Once they are healthy enough, we want to return them to the wild. Doing so here would almost be a death wish. We just can't guarantee their survival even if we took them out to Southern National Park, where they were found. The park is just allocated land; there is no infrastructure there, with no-one patroling any sort of boundary nor enforcing hunting restrictions. We're concerned that if we release them there, they'll either be hunted or sold for money. People just have no perception of wildlife conservation. The same thing could happen all over again.


So the plan is to try and get a CITES permit to get the leopards out of the country. We are hoping an organisation called Wildlife Conservacy Services (WCS) can help us to get these little guys out of here and safely into a national park or wildlife conservation area somewhere like Kenya or South Africa, where they can be properly protected. WCS is working with the South Sudan Government to set up a network of National Parks across the country, build ranger stations, establish park boundaries and train staff to patrol them. They are also tasked with protecting wildlife in the country. Currently though, none of this exists - WCS are only just building the ranger stations.

Hopefully, in future - which is looking like somewhere between 20 - 50 years - wild animals like our little feline friends can be reintroduced into the wild in South Sudan, once the park system is properly functional. The country is perfect for it - miles and miles of mostly uninhabited land - but it will be a long, uphill battle to achieve anything like a functional parks system.

So, we remain cautiously optimistic about the survival of these two little leopard cubs. Things are definitely looking up - compared to when we first found them. But we'll just have to wait and see. All we know is that we're going to do our darnedest to stop them from getting back into incompetent Ministry of Wildlife hands.

This experience erases all of the sh!te i've experienced working here in South Sudan. It's a rare thing to even see a leopard in the wild, let alone leopard cubs, and to have the opportunity to give them a chance to survive makes me feel like I have some sort of super power. I'm one of the luckiest people alive.

Another report on the refugee situation :(

UNHCR appeals for funds to scale up emergency refugee operations in South Sudan


JUBA, South Sudan, June 13, 2012
African Press Organization (APO)

UNHCR today appealed for donor support to scale up emergency response operations in Unity and Upper Nile states.


Speaking to members of the press in Juba, Mireille Girard, UNHCR Representative in South Sudan, stated that refugee numbers had exceeded the planning figures set out in the emergency appeal which was launched earlier this year. “Our capacity to respond to this emergency is being challenged every single day. We are anticipating a major scale-up to respond to the rapidly growing population of refugees from Sudan.”


Regarding the surge in refugee numbers, Girard noted that 70,000 new arrivals had entered the country since April. “We had anticipated there would be up to 60,000 refugees in Unity state. We have already crossed the 50,000 mark and if the present trend of 800 new arrivals per day continues, we should reach the planning figure before the end of June. In Upper Nile state, we planned for 75,000 refugees. Already, we are counting 105,000 with reports that up to 15,000 could cross the border in the coming days.”


The UNHCR Representative noted that there had been no let-up since the emergency started in July last year. “Refugee settlements are in remote areas with virtually no infrastructure. Our priority has been to relocate refugees to safer sites away from border areas. We have established five settlements in Unity and Upper Nile states where refugees are receiving protection and basic services. We had to open up new supply lines through Ethiopia. WFP reprioritized the allocation of food stocks at great cost to ensure that refugees were fed. As the refugee population grew, we encountered critical gaps in water supply, particularly in Jammam settlement.”


Girard noted that challenges are increasing with the rains. “We intend to establish new settlements close to the River Nile to ensure adequate supplies of water. Authorities in Upper Nile state have undertaken to provide new sites. We will require heavy machinery to maintain road access to and within all refugee settlements. We are launching an airlift of non-food items by mid-week.”


The UNHCR Representative said the most immediate needs before the full onset of the rainy season had been computed as USD 40 million. She noted that the emergency appeal of USD 111 million for South Sudan was funded at a modest USD 34 million, which have already been expended. She thanked the donors who contributed the funds, adding that to cover the shortfall UNHCR had activated emergency reserves which enabled it to secure immediate relief support. The funds from the emergency reserve are now depleted.


Describing the current situation, the UNHCR Representative expressed concern about the increased rate of arrival from both Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. She noted that refugees from both provinces were citing bombings, ground fighting and depletion of food stocks. “During my recent visit to Hofra, the refugees I met were weak from having survived on leaves and roots, and drinking untreated water from open sources as they travelled on foot for weeks to escape the conflict.

Severe cases had to be hospitalized.”


Regarding ongoing operational responses, Girard noted that road conditions had deteriorated to the extent that tractors with trailers had to be used to transport the most vulnerable to safety from border areas. She described how the 32,000-strong group of new arrivals had been moved from Elfoj to Hofra, and then to Kilo 18 even as drilling efforts continued in the refugee settlements in the quest for sustainable water sources. She confirmed that two new boreholes in Yusuf Batil were producing water in sufficient numbers to cater for over 20,000 refugees, and more were being drilled. Girard announced that the final movement of refugees from Kilo 18 to Yusuf Batil has commenced; 2,000 people are being transported every day.


In Yida, the UNHCR Representative noted that expedited procedures have been put in place for new arrivals. "The priority is to check their nutrition status and ensure that those who are malnourished receive urgent treatment." Girard remarked that the burgeoning population was putting a strain on water and sanitation infrastructure. She said water and sanitation activities (wells, latrines and hygiene promotion) are being upgraded amid concerns about congestion and risk of disease.


“We need additional boreholes. The water table in Yida is good. We are working to complete these interventions before the roads are completely closed. Together with WFP we are pre-positioning food and non-food items in order to avoid costly airlifts. We are confident that stockpiles will be ready on time.” Girard was referring road conditions which will deteriorate drastically rendering ground access impossible as the seasonal rains set in.


The Representative reiterated UNHCR’s continuing concerns about refugee security in Yida. She recalled that the settlement had been bombed and shelled directly twice during attacks in Jau, the disputed border area. She conceded that UNHCR could not force refugees to move.

“We will continue to advocate for refugees to relocate to areas where the risk of attack is lower. On the other hand, as long as refugees choose to remain in Yida, we will continue to provide life-saving assistance and basic services to maintain conditions of dignity.”


South Sudan is currently hosting over 150,000 refugees from Sudan. Over 105,000 of these are in Upper Nile State, while over 50,000 are in settlements further west in Unity State.


SOURCE

United Nations – Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Work woes and wankers

I'm not so happy with Oxfam right now.

Things are not looking good on the project front. We missed out on half our funding due to UNICEF tightening their purse strings, so we are having to limit the scope of our new WASH project in Rumbek North and not include a schools WASH component. Most importantly/sadly we also have to end the contracts of six of our staff because there isn't enough money to keep them all on - nor is the project big enough. It also means there is only enough money to fund my position for six months. Hopefully some more funds will come out of nowhere sometime soon. (!)

I really don't want to have to 'fire' our staff. It's just a shite process. But it sounds like I'm not really going to be part of deciding who should stay or go - to apparently avoid bias in the decision. Considering I manage and work with these guys on a daily basis, and know who those are that work hard, and those that don't, it all seems rather f#cking illogical to me. Our HR and funding departments are really starting to piss me off.


I'm fighting with HR about my contract too. Our Deputy Country Director is being a dick about the whole thing. I will soon have a new title - Coordinator, Public Health Promotion, instead of Advisor. I'll be required to get more involved in national-level strategic development of PHP approaches and strategies, and work more across the Oxfam South Sudan program. This is effectively what I do now, but it's designed to remove my involvement in the staff management side of things by taking me out of the field, and get me focused on these higher-level activities. One part of this is being based in Juba, but I'm not really keen; I prefer Rumbek and I can do more here in the field. There, I just sit in the office and attend meetings and don't really feel like I belong there. That's not why I signed up to work here.

Our Public Health project manager, Moses will be leaving soon, so I may have to act in his position in Rumbek til they recruit someone new anyway, which could be around two months. I'll miss him a lot. He's a great guy to work with, totally chilled; I enjoy his company and respect his professionalism and experience. Still, I feel like I do a lot of his job for him; when I'm here I basically manage the Public Health team, and initiate all the planning of the project; yet it is him that should be doing these things.

That said, it could be a blessing in disguise 'moving' to Juba. With my Rumbek social network dissolving in front of my eyes, going to Juba where there is a critical mass of people could be a good thing. It will enable me to focus on what I should be doing, and remove the distractions of managing the team. But what I find most frustrating about the whole thing is that I will get to the field less often and be expected in Juba more often. And they're asking me to go 'immediately', because they want me to cover for the absent Public Health Coordinator, whose position has been vacant for around three months now. Not my f#cking problem, Oxfam. You've failed to recruit someone for this position. I'm not going to sit behind a desk in Juba doing this person's job if you're not going to compensate me for it. I'm refusing to go until I'm good and ready.


And for many reasons, I just don't like the place. It's big, dirty, unsafe and I don't have a good feeling about it. But maybe I just need to give it time. It's not like I don't enjoy it when I'm there; I've just never really got a reason for being there apart from passing through... but now... another bonus: I've met a nice Kenyan guy there, who I really like, so hopefully I'll get to spend some more time with him. And I have some other friends there with whom I'll get to spend more time. And there's constant phone network, electricity and decent food, unlike Rumbek. So it has its advantages.

Plus I get to decide how much time I spend in Juba vs the field, even though it's supposed to be 40% Juba, 30/30 Lakes/Upper Nile. I don't think I'll get to Upper Nile in the near future though.We have over 60 staff there now, working on the refugee emergency response and a lot of Hygiene Promotion experts to provide assistance. In some ways I'm happy about it - it means less moving up and down all the time - but in others I'd still like to go there and be part of the response. But I've tried to make contact with the managers there, to find out if they would like me to come and support the team; even my request for a ToR has fallen on deaf ears. If they don't want me there, fine, just let me know! For now, it suits me fine though. I can support the team with planning our new Public Health intervention in Rumbek North.

Funnily enough, just yesterday I got a request from one of the PHP advisors to come there and 'share my experiences' working in Jamam. They could have done this 2 months ago when I got back, and the scale-up there was 2 months younger than it is now. Such a cop out. They only want me to do this now that I have a new title. Directed from Juba no doubt.

Still, we'll see how things pan out. You have to stay optimistic in this place, otherwise it drags you down. Hopefully we'll get funding. Hopefully our little dog will survive. Hopefully a new social contingent will come in to fill the gaps. I do love Rumbek and I'll be sad to leave. But Juba brings with it a number of new opportunities. So let's see what happens.

Ok! Rant over.

Basketball, broken noses, dog sitting and adventures in Rumbek North

So, here in Rumbekistan, everything's just fine and dandy. Here's the contents of my brain for your enjoyment.

My enjoyment is coming from being able to stay in the one place - I'm not moving up and down so much between Upper Nile and Lakes, and am enjoying being able to spend my weekends with the crew here. have been getting into playing basketball in Freedom Square. We've been playing a bit of badminton and  watching the French Open and UEFA Cup football on the 'big screen' in the Safari Style hotel compound - a carefully erected bedsheet.

I've also really been enjoying basketball practice. A couple of mornings a week, I go out to the court in Freedom Square with my friend Dak, or if he's a no-show, whoever turns up - be it the street kids, an Ethiopian soccer player or two skiving off from training, or kids on their way to school. On Saturday mornings I go out for a run with some of the local guys. They're all way taller than me, and driving on them is a bit like hitting your head against a brick wall. Pointless and painful. So I've had to improve my outside shooting...

I'd been practicing for a week or two; then one Sunday evening I went out to play my first game. Five minutes into the game, I managed to break my nose due to an errant (and sharp!) elbow from an opposition player retrieving a rebound. I'd forgotten how red my blood was. I was lucky that one of my colleagues happened to be passing the court on foot and was able to call the car; I had no phone. I didn't head to the hospital - they wouldn't have been of any help - but went straight to the fridge in Safari Style for some ice! I now have a nice little lump on the bridge of my nose. Nice. I got a couple of nice little black eyes, and wearing sunnies was painful for about a week. I was actually annoyed that I didn't get better bruising on my face. I want the pain to be worth it. Give me BLACK EYES!

On the social front, everyone seems to be leaving over the next few weeks - including my good mate Rach, who has been working for Oxfam for the past six or seven months. She's leaving on Wed, which I'm really sad about. She's been such a good friend to have adventures, be silly and watch movies with, give & receive hugs, and most importantly, vent to - because we both understand each others' frustrations! I may go partly mad without her here! We are throwing her a big farewell bash on Tuesday night and have invited all the staff to come, as well as the khawaja crew. It should be really fun - there will be nyama choma and dancing, of course!

The three musketeers will soon become two ...

A couple of others are leaving by July, so our contingent is shrinking by the day. Even Ollie, the social glue of Rumbek, is fed up with the difficulties of managing a hotel here and is considering going to work in Mozambique. So I'll just have to wait and see how many friends I'll have left. It's the usual cycle of humanitarian workers. New ones will come... Insha'allah...

Rach and I were on dog patrol last weekend. We were taking care of a friend's puppy while she is on leave. On Thursday the puppy started getting really sick; by the weekend she wasn't eating or drinking anything and had bloody diahorrea.... so we took her to the vet at Veterinarians Sans Frontiers, who diagnosed her with parvo virus, something that commonly affects puppies. We've had to keep her hydrated by syringing water into her mouth - which she promptly throws up. She's now at the compound on a drip and it's not looking good; the vet says she may only live a few more days. We're absolutely mortified. Yesterday she disappeared in the compound and we were petrified she'd gone off to die somewhere. We were so relieved when we found her.

Work-wise, Oxfam is moving into a new county for 2012-13: Rumbek North. This county is quite remote and not served by many NGOs. It's insecure due to cattle raiding and inter-tribal fighting, and the one road leading there is already getting muddy with the impending rainy season, and soon will be impassable in sections, not to mention the villages we plan to work in, most of which are deep inside the bush. There are loads of trucks carrying marram northwards for road construction ... as well as loads of trucks carrying soldiers up to the border areas to fight the North. There are some training camps on the road for the new recruits to learn how to fight; on the other side of the road are the ramshackle villages which house the wives and children of the soldiers.

We spent last week doing a Needs Assessment there (checking the status of boreholes, visiting communities without boreholes - often over an hour's walk on foot because the landcruisers can't reach there (mud!) - and meeting with authorities) and this week we'll be doing baseline surveys with households in these same villages.Most of the villages we've visited have no hand pump, or their existing hand pumps are either broken or need some sort of rehabilitation, and no-one has a latrine in their home. People drink water from the river an hour's walk away, where they also take their cows to drink; during the rainy season they take water from pools on the ground. The schools are mostly simple benches under trees with a single bamboo shack that doubles as a church. It's very much a subsistence agricultural community. So it will be an interesting - and challenging - place to work in terms of implementing infrastructure and changing behaviour.

Rumbek North is isolated, but it's also really beautiful. The countryside is so green due to the initial rains; there are loads of birds everywhere - I've seen egrets, crowned cranes, ducks, ibis and other water fowl; and bucket loads of cows! We pass cattle camps - or remains of them - regularly, and a lot of small boys herding their cattle to the next site of green pasture. The cattle camps look like amazing places, even though I've never been into one. They are temporary settlements out in the open, with no houses, just temporary shelters to protect the mostly men and boys from the rain. They stay there with their cows - often in the hundreds; there are stakes in the ground to tie up the cows at night, and sometimes they put branches around the outside to mark the boundary and provide a temporary 'fence'. They keep dogs with them to help protect the herds from hyenas and burn cow dung to keep away the flies and mosquitoes. The people live - almost exclusively - off the cows' milk, use the urine to bleach their hair, and cover their faces in ash.

 

The community is currently in their fields cultivating the land with their huge white cows with the even huger horns, which pull simple ox ploughs behind them, and are planting peanuts, sorghum, sesame, maize - all by hand. Unfortunately the moving herds of cattle don't mix well with the villagers' crops, and cause all sorts of problems when they eat their way through.

And soon enough, we won't be able to get to any of these places, so we'll spend a few months in hibernation - planning our activities and hopefully improving our approach from last year. My gumboots are definitely going to get a work-out.