May 29, 2015 (NYALA) - Aid groups in South Darfur state have warned against increasing numbers of orphans and displaced persons due to tribal conflicts and the ongoing war between the government army and the rebel groups since 2003.
The national aid group Solidarity for Relief and Development (SRD) on Thursday has launched the first festival for adopting 5000 orphans and providing their families with the basic means of production.
SRD secretary general, Amir Hussein Abdel-Rigal, said they aim to increase the number to reach 10,000 adopted orphans by the end of the year, noting his group continued to offer other services including drinking water projects and building of mosques.
He pointed out that they provide services in various Sudanese states, adding that orphans festival is being launched for the first time in South Darfur.
Abdel-Rigal said they also launched the “Million Subscriber” initiative to support orphans across the country, pointing that subscribers only contribute a monthly donation of one Sudanese pound (SDG).
He called for renouncing tribal violence in Darfur in order to reduce the number of orphans in the restive region, saying that tribal fighting is the major source of orphanhood in South Darfur.
“We want Darfur to enjoy stability, peace and prosperity instead of tribal conflicts and fighting which [are the main cause] for the existence of vast numbers of orphans,” he added.
The humanitarian aid commissioner in South Darfur, Jamal Yousif, for his part, praised efforts of the SRD, pointing the great confidence won by the latter from the donors would enable it to provide valuable services for the orphans.
A source within the social welfare ministry in South Darfur told Sudan Tribune that the state was unable to determine the total number of orphans due to limited financial resources, saying that tribal fighting and the armed struggle are the main causes responsible for existence of thousands of orphans.
The same source pointed that a preliminary study showed that the state is a home for more than 4,000 orphans, stressing that numbers of the homeless is constantly growing which requires finding solutions to prevent further exacerbation of the situation.
The government forces conducted a brutal counter-insurgency campaign following the start of a rebellion in Darfur 2003.
UN agencies estimate as many as 300,000 people have been killed and almost 3 million were displaced.
Also tribal fighting has intensified in four of Darfur's five states during the past two years leading to thousands of deaths and injuries and forcing over 300,000 people to flee their homes.
(ST)
May 29, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan's presidency has downplayed reports of insecurity in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, dismissing claims of rebel presence in the region.
This comes a day after renegade Gen. Dau Atorjong told Sudan Tribune his forces had captured strategic areas in the state, citing Aweil West and Aweil North counties, Nyinboli and other key areas.
But the presidency, in a statement issued Friday, said the rebels' claim aimed at misleading citizens and the international community
“We want to inform our citizens and to whom it may concerns that Northern Bahr El Ghazal State did not concede any territory to the rebels, nor did it experience any serious fight with the rebels,” it said.
“What has transpired, however, was the column of rebels' intelligent reconnaissance moving to explore targets in NBGS [Northern Bahr el Ghazal state], but it felt into government ambush and two of the rebel officers were taken captive,” added the release.
According to the presidency, the prisoners of war taken by the government forces from the rebel forces of Gen. Atorjong were 2nd Lt. Mou Garang Diing and Sgt. Major Kerbino Bol Marik Ken and they the duo were now in the Division 3 Infantry headquarters' custody.
“The Division 3 Commander's Major General Santino Deng Wol is now arranging with the Chief of General Staff to bring the two captives to the SPLA General Headquarters for further investigation,” stressed the statement issued by the country's presidency.
It further said the rebels who escaped capture were currently on the run, but they are being pursued by the national army attached to Division 3.
“We therefore would like to appeal to our citizens in NBGS to remain calm and focused while the SPLA forces are doing their national duty. Rumors of the utopian rebel advances must be discarded, if rebels are to be deprived of the ability to manufacture lies,” it noted.
(ST)