Summarized Report on Returnees` Situation & WFP Activities in Renk County

Date: 15th-July, 2012

Introduction

Dear Friends, I would like to register on behalf of Renk Diocese and all the community of  the ECS acknowledgment and appreciation for the high support of the Diocese of Chicago and our friends at Tyndale House Foundation. Knowing that ECS-Renk Diocese has a unit for development helps returnees through WFP (World Food Program).

ECS-Renk Development and Relief Agency (ECS-REDRA) is a non-governmental international, non-profit, non-political organization, officially registered with the government of the Republic of South Sudan, since 2010.

> Cooperating with WFP in providing services for the implementation of General Food Distribution (GFD), Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme (BSFP), Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme (TSFP), Institutional Feeding Programme (IFP), and Food For Education (FFE) for a total of 16,186, beneficiaries and a total of 683.18.Mt(?) of food as described in approved proposal submitted by the ECS-REDRA partner to WFP for the period from April-December, 2012.

> Cooperating with the Fellowship of the African Relief (FAR) in the Livelihood and Food Security Project that was designed to targeting the small Farmers and vulnerable groups in Melut County.

> Also previously had a strong partnership with Christian Aid Organization in the area of Education and Development and Risk Reduction areas of which a considerable number of projects have been implemented within the period of (2009 -2010)

Returnees Statistics in Renk County

In addition to the already existing (17,700) returnees stranded in Renk County, which are located temporally in 3 resettlement camps around Renk town, such as, Abayok, Mina, and Payueer, there is a new influx of returnees from Khartoum and Kosti that had started their arrivals in Renk from early of March, 2012 until the date of this report. (July 15)

However, it is worth mentioning that after all routes leading to South Sudan from north Sudan have been closed down due to the arms disputes along the border, the fact is that made the road between Renk and Kosti the only path where all the returnees and their repatriations operations were executed by the IOM and other working partners going through Renk as a transit way station.

 The number is estimated to be around (4,000) returnees divided into the above three resettlement camps. The following table shows the camps and their populations:

Camps in Renk

Location/Camp	Number of People	Remarks
Abayok	12,905	Mixed population but main destination UNS, NBeG & Jonglei
Mina	8,637	Located at the river front. Mixed population but main destination Unity, Warrap, CES, UNS
Agany	873	Population mainly for greater Upper Nile/Malakal
Payuer	1,7304	Population mainly destined to greater NBG.
Total	24,419	This includes some 2,300 due  to leave shortly by barge & boat

With the subtraction of those who have been transported by the IOM to their final destinations in South Sudan States, the current remaining returnees’ number in Renk is estimated to be (22,119), divided into the above mentioned camps as well.

Food Distributed since April, 2012.

Below table shows the distributed food to beneficiaries from April-June, 2012

From April-June,2012	Commodities	Units	Mts	Ben.	Location	Remarks
	Wheat	13,548	270.975	31,119	All Camps & Residents
	Sorghum	5,707	114.15
	Lentils	2,697	53.965
	V,Oil	17,786	392.100
	Total	39,738	831.190	31,119	Mina

Barge Transporting People and their luggage’s to Juba

Problems & Challenges.

As mentioned above, the influx of the returnees into Renk County as a transit way station started since April, 2010, and the number of returnees that were transported by IOM to their final destinations in South Sudan was a small number in comparison to the number still stranded in Renk County  up to now.

 And the following problems and challenges have been identified as the main constraints to the transportation of these returnees. Their feeding mechanism is a grave concern.

1.     Lack of transportation facilities in South Sudan

2.     Lack of fuel for the available barges and trucks.

3.     Effects of the rainy season on the process of transportation on land.

4.     Inconsistency of the figures provided by IOM and SRRC.

5.     There is no clear plan for the final completion of transportation of returnees.

6.     The host community is suffering because of many returnees, and they are not getting anything from WFP. We distributed to them some food and medicine, but it is not enough.

Therefore, there is more need of support for the host communities. not just in Renk but also in Melut and Maban

Many Blessings and thank you,

+ Joseph

Bishop Joseph Garang Atem, Diocese of Renk

General Convention 2012 on Sudan and South Sudan

Here is the full text of the resolution on Sudan and South Sudan passed at the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church:

A019 Continue Advocacy for Peace in Sudan

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention calls for continued advocacy and prayer from all Episcopalians for peaceful resolution of the conflict in Abyei along the unsettled border between Sudan and South Sudan, and in the Blue Nile South Kordofan, and Darfur regions of Sudan; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention expresses sincere gratitude to the Episcopal Church in the Sudan for its continued leadership toward the goal of a just peace in the region; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention heartily commends Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak for his leadership and substantial personal involvement in repeatedly mediating and stopping interethnic conflicts in Jonglei and elsewhere in South Sudan, as well as ECS’ continued efforts to promote peaceful conflict resolution of ethnic and other disputes in South Sudan; and be it further

Resolved, That General Convention urges the United States government continue its strong support of international efforts for full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Sudan and South Sudan , transparency in accounting for oil revenues, and normalization of relations between the two countries, including issues of trade, immigration, citizenship, and protection of the rights of religious minorities in both countries, including Christians in Sudan, to practice their faith without official interference or discrimination.

EXPLANATION

For two decades, Sudan was involved in a bloody civil war between the north, government of Sudan in Khartoum, the National Congress Party (NCP) and rebellion in the south, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and other rebel groups. This civil war, which was described as one of the worst civil wars in Africa, cost millions of lives. In 2005, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between Khartoum’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) was signed. The CPA ended the two-decade-long civil war, and after a referendum conducted by the United Nations, the Republic of South Sudan became a separate nation state. Recently, the government of Sudan in Khartoum lodged a complaint with the U.N. Security Council accusing the Republic of South Sudan of supporting rebel groups in the country’s border-states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. This renewed conflict threatens the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and the peace and stability of the region. According to political observers, the renewed conflict is rooted in unimplemented provisions of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The issues include the failed democratic transformation of Sudan, stymied popular consultations, and the unresolved status of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) forces indigenous to the North.

Printed: Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 12:59 AM. 

AFRECS Luncheon at General Convention

The Embassy Suites provided a spacious room and a nice buffet.

AFRECS Executive Director Richard Parkins led a conversation about partnerships.

AFRECS President, the Rt. Rev. David Jones

Guests from Bor

Abraham of Bor with Jackie Kraus, Diocese of Chicago

Petero Sabune, Global Partnerships, TEC

Robin Denney, standing, and Larry Duffee, seated, recent missionaries to the ECS

Buck Blanchard, Diocese of Virginia

Ev Smith, Diocese of Missouri

Bishop Ruben of Bor, ECS

Sarah Dreier, Office of Government Relations

News from Ellen Hanckel

Hello Friends & Family,

Thanks for your many kind thoughts while I was away. I'm glad to report that I recently returned from Juba - safe & sound. I've thought about you often with gratitude for your prayers & interest...and with some regret since I couldn't be in contact with you during the last part of my stay in South Sudan.

The email system that had worked so well, suddenly had a 'melt down'. Alas, my talks with the provider did not result in restored service. Oh well, that's life, especially in the developing world.

Allow me to share a 'postcard' I wrote in part before leaving. My subject is two heavenly banquets and a wedding....(Not to be confused with the movie entitled 'Two Weddings and a Funeral'.)

**********
Sunday, May 5th
Juba, South Sudan

As I write, it's a rainy Saturday afternoon. Think downpour; long thunder rumbles; roof run-off filling up a big (250 liter) blue rain barrel in the Bishop Gwynne College courtyard. This is the biggest show in town during the rainy season which began very quietly in mid-April.

Since that welcome breath of cool, fresh air brought a good night's sleep for all who live here on the fourth parallel in sub-Saharan Africa, we have seen the cost. Flies overwhelm us and mosquitoes are not far behind. We keep going, appreciating the positive and overlooking the negative when possible.

The balance weighs to the good: leaves color the trees green; grass covers the once brown, bare earth; bright pink blossoms hang heavy on drooping branches. All of a sudden, Juba is transformed by rain, rain, rain, beautiful rain.

**********
The first heavenly banquet took place the week after Easter. Visitors from the UK brought many wonderful gifts, including themselves, from Trinity, their seminary in Bristol and now were preparing to return. The goal was to strengthen the ties of the companion relationship between the two schools.

Their last full day here, they ate lunch with the students and presented them with gifts - special books for the BGC library such as a book of Celtic prayers, a book on writing sermons, and a book about church history.

Many photos were taken by students, teachers and guests trying to capture the glorious feeling that surrounded us that day. At one point, amid the expressions of goodwill, I saw one student laughing with glee. When I asked why, he said, "Because this is so good, so full to overflowing that this is what the heavenly banquet will be like."

The Holy Spirit hovered around us and changed the room from its usual functions of a classroom, a worship space, or a dining hall, (depending on the configuration of the tables and chairs) to a most elegant spiritual abode. Just as the rain had transformed the landscape of Juba, so too the Spirit had transformed the luncheon into a heavenly banquet, a foretaste of the feast to come. Authentic conversation, prayers, and relationships between people and communities filled the room.

The day after their departure, I gave away the last of the tangible gifts from the Bristol visitors - some individual solar lights that will serve students who come to the library after dark seeking knowledge from the books that line the shelves. The student librarian asked me to pass this message on to the guests from Bristol: "Thank you for giving us all of these great gifts of life." "Indeed, I will," I said and I do so now with this message.

**********
About a week later on a Friday afternoon, I made my way over to the house of friends, Larry and Rebecca. On the way, I was drawn to nearby All Saints' Cathedral by the sounds of hymn singing - not what I expected to hear that day of the week. Maybe the choir was rehearsing for Sunday, I thought. When I got closer, I could see what was happening - a wedding!

I saw several BGC students sitting under a covered porch of the church. They were watching what was taking place inside by viewing a TV monitor. Someone was recording the ceremony and a bishop from the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS) was preaching in Arabic. The power of his words came across to me even though I did not understand their meaning. Every now and then the preacher's language changed to English for a moment and he said something I could understand - for example, 'First Corinthians 13' and 'Silver Jubilee.'

As I sat with the students, they provided some translation, so I caught more of the meaning beyond that. The bride and groom brought many 'gifts' to the union, I was told. She is a medical doctor; he is a doctor of law. One is from the Nuba Mountains; the other from Juba. They plan to settle in the Nuba Mountains although that is a contested area where border fighting is taking place. This couple is considered to be 'premier' according to my student translator. Their high degree of education and the large group of family and friends in attendance gave witness to the truth of that comment.

The clothing worn by the wedding party and their guests gave more evidence of them being well-to-do. The style of apparel was a mixture of Western & African. All looked very stylish. The bride's dress was flowing white satin; the groom wore a formal suit with a high cut collar.

After the sermon, the couple took a traditional walk down the center aisle to bring the gifts of bread and wine to be consecrated and shared. The service continued at the altar as if it were coming from The Book of Common Prayer, except the language spoken was Arabic.

**********
The final 'snapshot' took place the last night I was in Juba, on Monday, June 4th. This feast was indeed a Heavenly Banquet.

The school has provided a closing banquet in the past honoring the graduates. This year there were no graduates, only first and second year students, moving up to the next class. (BGC closed for one year in order to rebuild after a time of difficulty.)

Principal Joseph organized a dinner this year to celebrate the hard work of students, faculty and staff. As a bonus, the date happened to coincide with a visit from Dr. Ellen Davis from Duke Divinity School who has been actively working on several projects for education in South Sudan.

The dinner was held under the tent at the ECS Guest House. A full meal had been beautifully prepared by the staff. All the students gathered for a photo before the sun began to fade at 7 pm. Proudly I stood among the group of 23 South Sudanese - my students for at least one semester.

The speeches before dinner included many kind words of appreciation and goodwill. The speakers included the Principal, the ECS Provincial Secretary, the Dean of Students, the Chair of the BGC Council, the President and the Secretary of the Student Body, among others.

Gratefully I received tangible gifts, expressions of the spiritual gifts that we had shared during the past four months. They included a beautiful, framed certificate of appreciation, an African candle stand, a map of South Sudan, an etching of an African woman and a lovely dress made from African cloth.

The letter of thanks presented by the students humbled me beyond measure, especially in front of the assembled dignitaries. It reads in part: "...on behalf of Bishop Gwynne College students, we thank you for giving yourself a time to come from your homeland to this new nation...to teach us. Thank you for having persevered the weather conditions...because of us. Thank you for the Spirit of Love that you have shown to us by being with us for morning devotions and your 'activeness' for your lecture hours which we students noticed. Also thank you for being ... a courageous 'Mother to Us'.

"Please! As you go, pass along our greetings to your family members, ... and to different congregations in your diocese. We shall continuously remember you in our prayers and we wish you to come back...Let God's blessing be upon you in Jesus' name."

Afterwards, I remember writing in my journal, "My life is complete." Thanks be to God for this great blessing in my life. Amen.

*********
Peace be with you, my friends and family. Signing off now as  your correspondent from South Sudan, I thank you for your kind attention.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Ellen

The Rev. E.J. Hanckel, D.Min.
**********

Act for Sudan Letter to the UN Security Council

The letter below came to us from Act for Sudan. The instructions were as follows: 

I hope you will join me in signing on to this Act for Sudan letter to the UNSC asking it to impose severe sanctions on the Government of Sudan if it does not allow access for humanitarian aid to the Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile State.  The text of the letter is included at the bottom of this email.

To sign on, please send the following information to Esther Sprague at esprague11@yahoo.com:
 
Name, Title
Organization

City, State, Country

June 6, 2012 

Dear Members of the United Nations Security Council, 

We write because of our dire concern for the people of the Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile State who face imminent death by violence and starvation orchestrated by the Government of Sudan. 

While we welcome United Nations Security Council Resolution 2046, which has succeeded in resuming negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan and has facilitated the removal of troops from Abyei, the ongoing violence and lack of humanitarian aid in the two areas has not been addressed. 

UNSC Resolution 2046 “strongly urges Sudan and the SPLM-N to accept the tripartite proposal…to permit humanitarian access to the affected populations in the two areas.” The SPLM-N has signed the proposal and has repeatedly agreed to the cessation of hostilities on the basis of humanitarian grounds; however, the Government of Sudan continues to bomb and attack the areas and to refuse access for humanitarian aid. 

UNSC Resolution states that if the parties do not comply with the Resolution, the UNSC agrees “to take appropriate additional measures under Article 41 of the Charter as necessary.” 

We recognize the tenuous nature of negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan and all that is at stake. However, the people of the Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile State must not be sacrificed in order to appease the Government of Sudan. Furthermore, the Government of Sudan's blatant and longstanding disregard and abuse of its citizens clearly defines the nature of that government and calls into question its sincerity in pursuing and abiding by any outcome of negotiations between the two countries. 

Rather than allowing the Government of Sudan to hold both countries and the international community hostage, we urge the United Nations Security Council to follow through with severe sanctions and other powerful consequences if the Government of Sudan does not allow immediate access for humanitarian aid as outlined in the tri-partite proposal. We recommend a deadline of June 14, 2012, which is the third scheduled review by the UNSC of implementation of the Resolution. 

For one year, the international community has had the opportunity to address the crises in Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile State. People are starving to death and dying violent deaths because the choice was made not to intervene. This approach cannot continue if the United Nations hopes to preserve its credibility. Resolution 2046 is a step in the right direction. For the sake of peace and stability in Sudan, South Sudan and the region, please do not back down now. 

Signed by: