Bor County Trip Report

Purpose/Scope of the Trip:

The initial purpose of the trip was to provide relief assistance for the inhabitants of Bor County because of the famine that was looming over the area due to the previous year's low harvest and increase in the number of displaced persons returning home after the peace agreement; making local supplies of food insufficient for survival. First famine's report appeared early December 2004, but the UN failed to heed the pleading on time until the rainy season kicked in, which rendered the place inaccessible to the outside. Again in April, the same report was reissued with statistics indicating the severity and the toll of the famine on human population in the area.

It was hard for the Sudanese Bor community in the United States to accept such an appalling report and the world failure to rein in considering the comprehensive peace agreement just signed between the North-South warring parties. CPA and other factors made it possible for the isolated areas during war to be accessible to INGOs or national organizations. After exploring many options and alternatives through which such a disaster could be pacified, the Sudanese Bor community in the United States agreed to raise funds for relief assistance to the residents of County. Together with the support of the American friends, the community was able to raised $50k for the famine relief within two months. This successful effort led to the naming of a team of three commissioned to carry out food delivery in the earmarked region of Bor County . The team was made up of Mamer Kuer and Mr. Ron Limb of Golden Gate community church together with Ustaz. Maker Thiong Maal, who was our ground point person in Kenya . After meeting up with Mr. Maker in Nairobi , the team traveled to Bor on July 17, 2005 on mission to delivery food. Fortunately, however, on the day of arrival, World Food Programme, one of branches of the UN organizations was conducting food airdrops in the area for relieving the famine. Although belated, it was gratifying to witness the concern of the world with the disaster. The amount of WFP food portioned for each family was little but enough to alter the state of the famine in the area. The most visible thing even to the outside eye was how much work the villagers have put into cultivating the land for subsistence consumptions, defying the odds of natural disaster from holding them back from going forward in life. It was a testimony attesting to peace as being feasible and may even last long.

 

Findings:

After several consultations with the Payam (s) and its leadership, there was a recurrent appeal for education, healthcare and modern agricultural equipment. Education was overstressed and lack of it or is apparent in terms of structures and facilities in the whole county and other surrounding areas owing to war that has left people illiterate and destitute. Leaders who attended the meetings emphasized education more than they did on other needs because, they said, "illiteracy was the next war to fight off in Sudan after the civil war." They believed that the civil war happened in part because there was no enough educated population representing people's voices politically, economically and even socially.

Because of WFP food delivery, the leadership of the county and of the villages was pleased that the state of famine was rescued and was no longer a threat to residents' life. In addition to their optimism, the first crops of the harvest were expected in the last week of August or early September, 2005. As such their next priority was education, which was in ruins and shambles. The few classrooms built by Catholic Relief Service were incomplete and left for the villagers to put up walls on. The villagers put mud walls, which soaked up in rainwater and collapse, in most cases on the students. This and other factors have made education less attractive to the parents who would love their kids to have a safe and sound education and not become victims of it. Apart from the emphasis on education, basic healthcare is non-existent. Their hope for a healthcare is in the new peace initiative and its dividends for Southern Sudan or southern Sudanese at all levels.

After assessment and consultations, the team concluded that education was the pressing need that the county preferred to have instead of food. To have complete and comprehensive analysis, the team also consulted with NGOs - both international and local NGOs - operating in the county for their insight on the general situation. They concurred with Payams' leadership that education was a huge need in the area. These many voices on education and other factors relating to the system of money transfer to the region convinced the team to invest in classrooms rather than food items. The purpose of the investment is to build safe and reliable classrooms for students to take classes without fear of it collapsing on them. Each Payam or court center received eight thousand US dollars and ten thousand Kenyan shillings on top meant to be used to facilitate the formation of a committee. The money was deposited in the accounts of various reliable NGOs operating in the respective court centers. The villagers will set up committees responsible for building the classes and accountable to the NGOs holding funds.

 

NGO's holding funds and whose is held are as indicated below:

•  Care International .........For Jalle and Baidit

•  CRS (Catholic Relief Service) .... For Anyidi

•  Save the Children .......... For Makuac

•  Sudan Medical Care .......... For Kolnyang

 

Analysis:

lthough visibly there are overwhelming needs, the residents are optimistic and aspire for a better and a brighter future - a future with education, healthcare and enough food to avoid recurring famine that has frequented the area ever since. Compared to last year, as we learned, this year was surprisingly calm due to well-developed security and court systems at locally, which drastically have reduced lawlessness. The only lawlessness felt in the area is from the militias or the cow rustlers of Ismail Kony. There is a booming local trade in the area that makes manufactured products from Kenya , Uganda and Northern Sudan available to residents. The Sudan Peace accord between the North-South has made it conducive for law and order to be effective in the county. People move freely in and out of government-controlled towns, something impossible to do two years ago but because of comprehensive peace agreement this is possible. These and many other factors are true indications that peace will last in Sudan . The recent tragic and untimely death of Dr. John Garang has thrown many hopeful Southerners in shock, but it has not deterred them from the vision of going forward for the better.

Financial Summary - Click Here

 

An Emergency Fundraising Effort for Bor County

Although many people have seen and felt moments of tranquility in Southern Sudan, Bor County has neither seen nor heard them, but instead has experienced the continuity of hunger-sponsored death. The caring and loving youth from Bor County have formed what they call a "Coalition of the Willing". This organized body of persons is determined to voice to the world the complaints of their starving and dying people. The death is endless and people of good will are urged to intervene, the youths noticed. This body is considering contributing some emergency supplies for short-term assistance. Some phone calls received from neighboring Kenya indicated the magnitude of hunger to be disastrous and scary. An inveterate hunger is like a curse on our soil, said one of the kids from the Bor County, the most hunger-stricken county in Southern Sudan . This shocking and surprising news has been a mentally disturbing experience and no one on the planet can ever stand its presence. It looks like an organized conspiracy to exterminate the locals, the group shouted in sad tones. We cannot turn our back since we were all born there, they added.

The habitat, holding thousands of people, has suffered enough, as innocent kids and women have been frequently crying in horror at the brink of their death. So far, six people have died and have been buried in the last month, and more deaths are anticipated to occur this month, an assessment forecasts. The hungry vultures, in conjunction with some wild, dangerous creatures, persistently continue feeding on human flesh in Bor as they celebrate with joy. The drive would have been extended a little longer, but, because of the fear of inevitable demise, it has been sadly reduced to run for only a few days. It is not targeting any special classifications; however, the people of good will and faith are preferred.

Donated assets, if any, will be highly secured and made available to the needy when necessary. The "coalition of willing" will be committed to keeping its potential donors alert about how the effort progresses. Full disclosure of the financial accounts after the drive is mandatory. Means of remitting payments are optional. However, the effort recommends checks, money order or vouchers.

Golden Gate community Church has willingly opened an account to hold donations and gifts. Donors will get receipts for their donations in the mail detailing tax saving benefits. These receipts will depict to the IRS you donate to the drive.

Pay to the order of:
Golden Gate Community Church

Address:
3170 23rd Street
San Francisco, Ca 94110

Memo: S. Sudan_ famine.

Donations and gifts should be sent to these volunteers:

Mayol Aguto , NY (315-278-3482) Tel. Alier Pach , TX (817-528-3601) Tel

Akuak Deng VA, (804-484-0069) Tel. Ajak Gai , SD ( 605-695-1385) Tel

Gop Akau NY (315-278-3482) Tel. Gop Garang , TX (832-541-7482) Tel

Deng Mayom MI, (616-308-4211) Tel. Majak Mach , ND (701-729-2632) Tel

Mach Mathiong , PA (717-580-3349) Tel. Thon Majak , CA (408-241-3889) Tel

Matiop Bior , PA (717-330-5678) Tel Machar Kuch , AZ (520-248-8726) Tel

Mamer Kuer , CA (619-507-2480) Tel. Kur Mach, WC ( 206-854-1221) Tel

Ayuen Kuany , WI (608-558-8305) Tel. Wuoi Leek, WC.DC( 703-731-0139)Tel

Mangok Mach MA (617-591-0415) Tel Majak Aderek , SD (605-336-0349) Tel

Akol Aguek VT (802-542-6767) Tel Mayen Anai , IH (515-274-1645) Tel

Loi Deng GA (404-292-2606) Tel

Kon Machok MO(816-686-7339) Tel

Garang Majok TN(615-504-3817)Tel

They will eventually make up one consolidated financial record and then disclose their findings to the group. There will also be one main list of the names of those who sacrifice and make the drive successful. Never attempt to underestimate your offer. It is extremely important in the face of tragedy. The group said none of us is free when everybody else is dying of hunger at home--Bor. The drive is thanking everyone who has taken time and joined the "Coalition of the Willing" for the life-saving mission.

The voice of caring youth from Bor County , USA .

Mabior Atem Mabior

 

Famine strikes Bor County, Quick action needed.

Appeal by Dr Akec Khoc

Dear brother, sister, friend, Good Samaritan. I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reliable yet consistent information out of Bor County ( Sudan ) is that last year's crop failed and the food reserve was inadequate to pull the population through the usual food deficit period (May - August). Famine is looming over Bor County . Euphoria over the recently signed Peace accord has pushed many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to prematurely return to the area without prior arrangements for their reception and smooth resettlement. This has unfortunately aggravated the situation. The returnees have had to depend on their kins and community folks for food provisions, tradition obliges. Those receiving the new arrivals are themselves not fully resettled in that they have just returned to the area or have already shared what they had with earlier arrivals.

Circumstances seem to be as dangerous as in 1988 famine where many people lost their lives

From hunger. This time though, the situation may be slightly different from then. In 1988, late alarm drums/bells were sounded. However, there were too few sons & daughters of Bor County in the Diaspora to heed & react to the alarm. This time, early warning drums have been sounded in the area & echoed in USA , Canada , Europe and Australia . In addition, a good number of sons & daughters of Bor County are there to recognize the special character of the message and share it amongst themselves and with host communities. This year's famine impact on the people will largely depend on our capacity to react to it. Personal & collective willingness to help relatives and community members currently in the area or who might soon return there will change famine's impact on them.

My opinion ( hopefully shared ), is that this Famine situation is a cause meriting immediate concern, swift positive action in Fund Raising and the full participation of Bor County Youth. "Harambe, Harambe, Harambe ", & "All for one and one for all" should be our motto in the fight against this famine threat. We must bring food to the population in Bor County . We can and must win this fight. Remember brother & sister that it could have affected you or me if we had remained in the area. We ought to react in the way we would have expected others to react to our plea. Those people are in the same situation as you have been at Kakuma refugee camp, in Cairo , in Kampala and elsewhere. Remember the long march to safety in Ethiopia , on your way to Kenya . Your gratitude to Governments & people that have received, protect and help you will be similar to that of the community under famine threat and even more. Can you give them hope for a better future and the opportunity to improve their lives after having survived the famine threat. Should anybody loose his/her life now, it will be helas, a regrettable " death too many " to a potentially preventable cause.

Brother & sister, Dinka culture teaches us to listen to everybody, big or small, man or woman and to seriously evaluate the message conveyed. Listening is learning and the art of giving back to the community through action. Have you & I heard the voice shouting out of Bor County ;

"Help, help "before it is too late. What action have I, you, we taken???

As we cherish our rich cultural heritage, we keep drawing lessons & strength from it. During such times, the youth (pride of the community), have to travel far and wide to bring food, save lives. The youth are the force of the weak, the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind. Are we fulfilling our traditional obligations or do we consider ourselves out of that community & are therefore responsible for ourselves only?

The same cultural values have taught us that the best human qualities are summed up in generosity, empathy and optimism. Each family and the entire community has given various aspects of these qualities. The need to help is a universal force of particular significance in Bor County . When one person needs to build shelter for family, the community lends a helping hand in many different ways. When another member's farm is seen to lag behind, or overwhelmed by weeds, people decide to help out that family, not expecting reward. Harambe.

The community members who have remained in the area are nice people who have sacrificed themselves and interests to uphold our culture, protect ancestral land. To them our gratitude is due. Nice people deserve nice services from nice people world-wide. Are we really grateful to those community members???  One hand does not clap but two hands do. Can we clap our hands to our community in the area?

Your survival has turned to be the hope & strength of your community, thanks be to God. Actually, you have become the real ambassadors of our community. You are effective first-class ambassadors, hope you realize that.

The recently signed Comprehensive Peace Agreement does not mean much to anybody whose survival is at stake. Can we help him/her survive to enjoy the essence of peace and stability in the area? Can you & I be the true Freedom givers?

The 1990's saw America 's best basket-ball team named the Dream Team. The team members, all great & generous people, gave the best of themselves, individually and collectively, in team spirit. The dream coaching group and really each American gave them undivided support. Their families, friends and world-wide anonymous well-wishers also supported them. Recall also that Bor County generations are named after events. Your generation has acquired the name of "lost boys & girls ". Some of you may like that, others would prefer a more cool name. Dream boys & girls is being contemplated. Dream Ambassadors would be an equally appealing title. Are these together or any of them not a real cool title to carry?

Would you energetically lead us to overcome the looming famine in Bor County ? Can you effectively pass the word to well-intending people, brothers & sisters in Christ in USA , Canada , Europe and Australia , indeed world-wide?  Allow the rays of hope shine over Bor County . Actions speak louder than words. Will we act in unison now?

I will end this appeal by advising ourselves to get properly organized, so that another similar situation does not find us unprepared, un/disorganized. May God give us the wisdom to fully understand His desire and gifts.

Thank you for your time. 

 

Dr Akec Khoc

11845 Jonquil St NW

Coon Rapids , MN , 55433

E-mail akecka@yahoo.com