Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Juba (Agenzia Fides) - "Panic is spreading, in our opinion, justified in part, that risks damaging the weak" refer to Fides missionary sources from Malakal, the capital of South Sudan Upper Nile, not far from the border between Sudan and South Sudan, for days the scene of fighting between the two Countries. "It is true, there are clashes, but the decision of some NGOs to withdraw their personnel from areas even far from those of the fighting areas seems exaggerated," said sources of Fides.
"Among people who suffer from the tension, there are refugees in the camp of Yida, in the southern Sudan territory, most of whom come from South Kordofan." In this State of Sudan, the troops of Khartoum are stifling a secessionist movement, supported perhaps by South Sudan. "The UN is doing everything possible to guarantee assistance to refugees from Yida" the sources said.
"The tension has also skyrocketed the prices of basic commodities and fuel. Speculators are using the situation to increase prices across the board " underline our sources. "Within 24 hours it is hard to find fuel in Malakal and the supply of electricity and water has been suspended because there is no oil (whose price has increased by 25%) to allow the generators and pumps to work. Women are thus forced to walk two hours to reach the banks of the Nile to fetch water directly from the river and go home carrying 20-litre-tanks on their heads."
At a political level, our sources are concerned about the stiffening of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir. "We followed on television the speech made yesterday by President Kiir to the nation. He said that several international personalities phoned him, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. Salva Kiir reiterated that he does not receive orders from Ban Ki-moon, who ordered him to withdraw troops from Heglig, the city conquered by the Sudanese army in Juba on April 10. In his speech, Kiir linked the issue of Heglig to that of Abyei. This is a Dinka area (the ethnicity of Salva Kiir) which is disputed by the two Countries, and is also rich in oil. At the moment the situation of Abyei is uncertain, since it was not possible to make the referendum that should have given the area to one of the two States." "We hope that reason will prevail and that we reach a compromise to resolve the situation in the two contested areas. We need prayer on behalf of everyone so that Sudan may find peace," concludes the source of Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/4/2012)
