Providing security to communities cut off by water When the rains come, Upper Nile State is an isolated place. In the north-east of Southern Sudan, the state has very limited road access in the rainy season and movement has been further restricted by periodic confrontations between militias and rival groups.14 April 2011 Governor of Upper Nile State H.E. Simon Kun Puoch (centre) on a boat ride [Photo - UNDP] Since the peaceful conclusion of the referendum in January 2011, violence has sparked off several times, including in the state capital Malakal, involving the SPLA, the national Sudan Armed Forces (who are deployed with the SPLA in Joint Integrated Units) and various militias. The Southern Sudan Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control (CSSAC) is working on localized aspects of this issue, with the view that enhancing security at the grassroots level will prevent conflicts from escalating and strengthen state presence.
The Bureau has conducted extensive consultations with communities in Upper Nile and found that one of their major concerns is the lack of police presence. In response, UNDP’s Community Security and Arms Control (CSAC) Project, which supports the Bureau, has provided over $190,000 for nine boats which the Bureau handed over to nine county commissioners of Upper Nile State on 8 April 2011. These boats will be used by police in the nine counties to patrol, investigate security incidents and help citizens in need, for example getting the sick to hospital. “This initiative is a key element of statebuilding,” said UNDP’s Head of Office, Joe Feeney. “Strengthening the authority of the State is crucial for addressing the challenges that will be faced by the new Republic of South Sudan.” This innovative solution will promote peace and stability and play a crucial role in enhancing the mobility of the government, said H.E. Major General Daniel Deng Lual, Head of the CCSAC Bureau, “so that the effectiveness of government can be felt among our communities.” The state government was delighted with the boats. “This is the beginning of the country we are going to have in two to three months,” said H.E. James Ruac Kun, Upper Nile Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement. “This first phase of the project has reached all the counties and resolved some of the problems connected to security issues,” added the Deputy State Governor, H.E. Andrea Maya Felow. UNDP’s Sam Muhumure, CSAC Project Manager, described some of the other activities being supported in Upper Nile State. These include eight police posts under construction in four counties and agricultural projects in six counties. The three remaining counties opted for water projects, which are waiting on water table assessments to be completed. Upper Nile State is determined to address some of its own security issues, said Upper Nile State Governor, H.E. Simon Kun Puoch, although challenges in some areas, such in managing international borders with Ethiopia and Sudan, following secession, will be hard to face. With the boats, as well as vehicles previously provided by the CSAC project, the Governor said that “we are in better shape now to safeguard the security of our people. This is one of the best solutions ever done, by any organization.” Posted in: Home, Humanitarian -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
