Over the course of a two-week period in July, MAG delivered Mine Risk Education (MRE) to more than 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had fled to Agok to escape the conflict in Abyei Town.
Fighting began in May between the armed forces of northern and southern Sudan in Abyei, an area contested by the two administrations for many years during the civil war, causing the displacement of most of the town’s civilians.
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Internally displaced persons in Juba, southern Sudan receiving Mine Risk Education from MAG staff in 2005. |
Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, relative peace has reigned between the north and south, though sudden outbreaks of conflict do occur sporadically, particularly in volatile regions such as Abyei.
An estimated 60,000 civilians headed to Agok, to the south, all living in very basic conditions with little shelter, food or clean water – and all vulnerable to the high levels of unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination in their hometowns when they return.
At the request of UNMAO (United Nations Mine Action Office), a UNICEF-funded MRE team accompanied WFP (World Food Programme) who were distributing food in Agok, so that whilst the distribution was being done the MAG team was able to gather large groups of people to deliver its MRE messages.
The provision of MRE to such vulnerable groups as IDPs helps to prevent accidents such as one the team learned of whilst working in the Agok area.
On 27 July, the team visited Abathok village to deliver MRE. After the presentation, a woman named Atong Nyandeng informed MAG that two children had been injured a week earlier by a hand grenade while playing in the bush nearby.
Having seen the unusual object lying on the ground they picked it up and decided to take it home with them. One of the boys, a five-year-old called Manietchol Yak, was playing with the grenade when it exploded, causing serious injuries to him and his friend. Both were flown to the nearest health centre in Wau.
“I hope from now our children may not meet the same incident, with the message which we have just got from you,” said Atong. “From now we will make sure that our children understand about mines and UXO, and I believe that our children won’t pick any strange objects any more. Thanks to all who save lives like you.”
The two boys have now returned to their village after treatment. MAG’s team will continue to provide support to the displaced people of Abyei and to vulnerable populations throughout southern Sudan.
Links:
- More on MAG's work in Sudan
- More news from MAG Sudan
- WFP (World Food Programme) website
- UNICEF website
26 August 08
