A child from a group of internally displaced
persons (IDPs) at Mershing IDP site where ACT members have
been active in the areas of water, sanitation, health, education
and non-food item distribution.
Photo: Nils Carstensen DCA/ACT International |
CWS Appeal: Southern Sudan Returnees
December 7, 2006
The population of Juba, in southern Sudan, is growing at unprecedented rates as a result of the large numbers of returnees either settling or migrating through Juba following a 21-year civil war. The war was settled through a comprehensive peace agreement in 2005. Juba is considered a way station for almost all returnees moving from southern to northern Sudan and also remains a final destination for some.
The existing infrastructure of the area, particularly in two underserved payams, or regions, of the municipalities Munuki and Kator, is either non-existent or in a dilapidated state. As a result, the affected areas are marked by increases of waterborne illnesses, as well as health care services being stretched beyond capacity. Schools are only able to serve less than half the existing school age population.
CWS Response: CWS is responding through support of a key partner in Sudan, Churches Ecumenical Action in Sudan (CEAS), an ecumenical consortium made up of three international Christian networks (Caritas Internationalis, Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches) and the two Sudanese church councils (the Sudan Council of Churches and the New Sudan Council of Churches).
CEAS is planning humanitarian interventions in the payams that include efforts focused on water/sanitation, education and health sectors, assisting some 66,000 persons -- specifically residents, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees living in Munuki and Kator in Juba.
Specifically: CEAS plans to construct improved water and sanitation facilities, and for sustaining these services, village health committees and hand pump mechanics will be trained. CEAS will partner with the education structures of the African Inland Church, the Episcopal church of Sudan, Sudan Aid (the Roman Catholic Church) and the Sudan Pentecostal Church to improve the church alliance’s ability to deliver primary education to local host and returnee communities. The intervention will target the rehabilitation of 37 classrooms, facilitate training for 30 pre-school teachers and provide school furniture.
In addition CEAS will also be partnering with Sudan Aid to improve and increase access to primary health care. It will target the rehabilitation of four clinics and provide essential drugs and other supplies to these clinics, and facilitate staff training.
Specific Breakdown of Beneficiaries:
Health: Assistance in four health facilities included in this proposal will directly benefit 15,000 people served per facility -- some 60,000 people in total. The facilities include St. Kizito Parish Health Centre, Munuki; St. Theresa Health Centre, Kator; All Saints Parish Health Centre, Rajaf; and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Dispensary, Kwarijik.
Water and Sanitation: Proposed 10 boreholes will benefit 250 people each -- some 2,500 people directly. Likewise, 25 compost latrines will benefit approximately 20 people each or 500 people directly. Four water committees will be trained (one per section of Munuki) with 5-7 members each for a total of 28 trained water committee members. Four water pump mechanics will be trained (two per section of Munuki) along with 20 pump caretakers (two per pump). As improved water and sanitation corresponds to improved overall community health and lowers rates of communicable water born illness, all of greater Juba will benefit from improved water and sanitation facilities in a given area.
Education: The schools represented in this proposal have approximately 3,209 students in five primary schools, which will all be direct beneficiaries to improved access and quality of education through teacher training, classroom rehabilitation and provision of school furniture.
Contributions to support these efforts may be sent to your denomination or directly to:
Church World Service
Southern Sudan Returnees, Account #641-L
P.O. Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515
Contributions may also be made by credit card online, or by calling: (800) 297-1516, ext. 222.