Warrap authorities deny relief workers face harassment in communities
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June 13, 2013 (JUBA) - Officials in South Sudan’s Warrap state have
dismissed reports that humanitarian workers are suffering harassment
in communities, despite claims by traditional leaders on Thursday.
A statement seen by Sudan Tribune and dated 14 May, cites a number of
well documented incidents, including claims of physical and verbal
attacks or threats, as well as an increase in administrative orders.
These included ordering relief workers to leave the area at short
notice, otherwise their safety would not be guaranteed by the state
administration.
“We are deeply concern[ed] that unusual practices have continued to
occur in our area. The area has been witnessing activities which
require immediate intervention from the higher level”, the statement,
which bears the signature of chief Malual Juuk, reads in part.
“We have seen members of relief workers who are helping our government
in the provision of essential services threatened and abused. Some of
them have physically attacked and ordered to leave the area within
short notice. This is raising a lot of concerns and affecting
commitment to providing services and we call on the government to
intervene”, the statement adds.
Juuk, who issued the release on behalf of the 24 traditional leaders
in Twic county, has expressed displeasure at communities over the
continued harassment of personnel from non-governmental organisations
operating in their areas.
There have also been reports that NGO staff have been verbally and
physically attacked by local residents, including members of
indigenous organisations involved in community sensitisation.
“We have been receiving these negative reports levelled against our
subjects and we are not pleased with the development. These NGOs
operating in our communities have not come over to grab our land or
families but to work with us in developing our areas”, the statement
said.
Incidents of harassment have been documented in Wunrok village, with
Juuk disclosing that there are further reports that individuals in
other villages and towns have also been harassing NGO personnel.
“It is expected that we traditional leaders should be in the forefront
to protect the wellbeing of NGOs that are operating in our respective
villages but that’s not the case with some people. This attitude is
wrong and unacceptable”, he said, adding that NGOs are helping
supplement the government’s own initiatives to develop communities
across the country.
“NGOs have been carrying out a tremendous job in the development of
our communities and therefore, I see it as inhuman to learn that some
NGO officers are being verbally and physically confronted by local
people in communities [they are] operating from”, he said.
He said friction between NGO personnel and community men in villages
came amid rumours that some organisations, particularly those
promoting women’s rights, have been encouraging women reportedly
suffering gender-based violence to divorce their husbands.
He vowed that those found to be harassing workers would be punished.
He also appealed to the government to initiate programmes aimed at
sensitising people, particularly in rural areas, about the role and
importance of NGOs in their communities.
“Our people need to understand the importance of having NGOs operating
in communities. For example, we have NGOs that are offering us with
health, education and water and sanitation facilities free of charge”,
he said.
Juuk also disclosed that he had reserved land specifically for NGOs
that intended to operate within his area.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Thursday, Twic county
commissioner Malek Riing Mathiang dismissed the reports, claiming he
had no prior knowledge of harassment in communities.
“I have no information. No chief has ever come to me with the reports
about this. This is the first time I am hearing it but we will do our
best to find out what we can do to establish the fact”, Mathiang said.
He said he was aware that some villages where there are NGOs operating
have been targeted by cattle raiders, although this has always been
treated as isolated incident.
(ST)
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