Solidarity with South Sudan

Two Marists Brothers (Christian Mbam and Dimgba Longinus) from Nigeria live in South Sudan, as part of the Project Solidarity with South Sudan. There are 31 clergy, religious and lay persons from 18 countries and 19 congregations living in 4 communities. Together, they train teachers, nurses, midwives, local farmers and community leaders in the youngest country in the world.

Here we reproduce a report, from Br. Christian, about the situation in the country, predominantly in the Riimenze community, in this time of COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Short updates on Riimenze – IDP, Primary School, farm and community amidst COVID-19 pandemic

South Sudan is among the latest to report positive tests of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country among many others, worldwide. Up until the 5^th of April we had enjoyed uneasy peace about the pandemic with zero case reported. Now we have been made to understand that we need to be more alert after the first case was detected and now rising to four cases with over sixty people being observed. Up until the 5^th of April, it was mostly business as usual for most the population. Only the relatively few literate and media-current population took some precaution about the disease that had ravaged many counties of the world.

Government Action

On the 25^th of March or thereabout just before the news of the first case of Coronavirus was reported from Juba, the government announced the closure of schools, a ban on social gathering including for religious purposes, curfew was imposed nationwide. Instructions on rules of hygiene and sanitation and social contacts were disseminated. But the awareness centered only in towns while the rural people lived in ignorance about the whole issue. Since the past weeks, massive campaign has been mounted by the government to try to contain the spread. South Sudan is very vulnerable with very rudimentary means of fighting the pandemic if becomes widespread. Radios, Television for the few who have access to it, mobile network, public announcement in the village and markets are ongoing.  Most South Sudanese have become aware of the pandemic but those in the hinterland and very remote places still go about their business as if nothing is at stake.

Riimenze School and Farm

The government announced closure of the schools from the 27^th of March to the 27^th of April. Since then the Riimenze Parish School has been under lock and key. Our teachers have left for Yambio, our state capital from where most of them came from. Even the remedial evening classes also organized by Solidarity through the support of Friends of Riimenze in Italy, has vacated. Riimenze is virtually under lockdown. Even Masses are celebrated with the major church doors closed.

By government instructs that public workers must be let off work at 1.00 p.m., South Sudanese time, rather than work up to 4.30 p.m. This instruction is presumed to affect even private institutions and the farm projects. Recently, there was a visit to the Solidarity farm in Riimenze by the South Sudanese law enforcement agents and they insisted that the workers must leave at 1.00 p.m. So now the farm workers leave the farm at 1.00 p.m.

What are the impacts of these restrictions?

Children in Riimenze and majority in South Sudan have no access to the digital network as to register for online classes. The grown-up among them would have been engaged in farming with their parents, but unfortunately the rains which were expected two months ago are still dragging their feet, coming. However, the children are not totally idling, they are helping their families to vacate the camp by constructing houses in the new chosen homes and moving the meagre family belongings to those places. The youngest ones roam around or do some minor chores for the families like fetching water in small containers. Of course these children are losing study times and are more exposed now to dangers and mischiefs.

For the farm, limited activities means also limited production. So the impact is of longer term. Economically, this is not sound. South Sudan imports more than half of its food needs from its neighbours. When the major farms operate at half production, then importation during the next season will increase. The pounds, South Sudanese currency will drop causing inflation. Meanwhile workers, according to the instruction must be paid their salaries and take their normal annual paid leave. What an economic burden on small businesses. Even for our Riimenze Primary school, we will need funds to cushion any extension of the academic year.

Internally Displaced Camp

Last month or so in my update I did mention that Riimenze camp dwellers are mostly leaving. It has continued and is ongoing. The camp is way above halved. Mostly the weak and vulnerable members are still staying back. But we continue with food distribution to our nearly two hundred of the elderly who either stay around or come over for their monthly ration. This is very valued by them as it supplements the family effort to feed them, some of whom are only extended family members. How long more this will continue is to be determined by Solidarity.

But my take about it is that we have the poor always with us and so as long as people are willing to support them, we should not deprive them of that additional help to raise their feeding standards. Solidarity did this, though in more reduced level, even before the camp phenomena.

Acutely needy few who are staying around because of lack means, we try to help them put up some home.

As of now, the war in vogue presents its own challenges – needs for protective measures and hygiene. The living conditions of the people in Riimenze and it’s environ is very poor. Rules of hygiene are almost impossible to meet.  Regular washing of hands, sanitization of frequently touched surfaces is had to meet. Caritas has suggested possibility of helping. But this is not finalized.

Conclusion

The concern of most people now is the Coronavirus pandemic. Though no case has been detected in Western Equatoria State, but the fear of an outbreak pervades the atmosphere. There is no total lockdown in the state, either, yet its economic impact is being felt by those who must grapple with it either in the short or long term. Our projects are not exempt from this.  If ever there is an outbreak, which still remains a high possibility, because of the numerous porous border inroads between South Sudan and its many surrounding neighbours, living conditions and poor facilities in the rural areas are threats of rapid spread.

Our camp has emptied in a large scale leaving those who either have special reasons for not moving, either because of reasons of job and few others that must be supported to leave. But when it comes to distributing rations to the elderly, we do not make distinctions between those who are still remaining and those who have returned home.