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The April edition of the People’s Voice includes stories on: the plight of street children; high infant mortality rates due to lack of medical facilities in Yei River County; the problems and fear caused by sporadic Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) attacks in Western Equatoria state and complaints from villagers over government inaction; the massive demolition of people’s homes and businesses in and around Juba city, by Government bulldozers without sufficient warning or compensation, leaving thousands homeless and with huge losses during the rainy season; a profile of South Sudan’s iron lady, Adelina Tito, Paramount Chief of Eastern Equatoria state; the skyrocketing prices of commodities in markets, and the impact this is having on people’s lives; and the devastating disease that is wiping out cattle in Lakes State.
The frontpage story in this issue takes a look into the plight of the ever increasing number of street children in most urban centres. The 12th April 2011 was the international day of the street child but, in South Sudan, this important event escaped the attention of many, save for a local charity in Yei County. Here an event was organized to highlight the social and economic magnitude of the problem. People’s Voice reporter, Agele Benson Amos, was on hand to listen to the stories of street kids and investigate the worrying trend that is threatening to ruin the future of many Southern Sudanese children.
April saw massive demolition of illegally constructed structures in and around Juba city. Government bulldozers mercilessly roared on people’s houses and businesses leaving thousands homeless and with huge losses. We ask why were people not given more notice, why was the work done during the rainy season, and how does the government plan to compensate its citizens for their losses?
Francis Lokole caught up with South Sudan’s iron lady, Adelina Tito. She is the Paramount Chief of Eastern Equatoria state. Adelina’s exceptional story is one of suffering and difficulty, like so many others in this war ravaged country, but also one of courage and endurance, as she rose through the ranks to reach a position where she can work to help and represent others.
In Western Equatoria state we investigate the problems and fear caused by sporadic Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) attacks. Here there is an unwritten law, “never walk alone”. One of our reporters spoke to some of the victims of LRA atrocities, in a region where most villagers have been forced to desert their farms because of the attacks, and listened to their moving tales and complaints about government inaction.
Elsewhere: in Juba Cou
nty, our able reporter, Charles Yuggu has looked into the skyrocketing prices of commodities in markets, and the impact this is having on people’s lives; in Yei River County, we hear about the high rate of infant and mother mortality due to lack of medical facilities; and farmers in Lakes State tell us about the devastating disease that is wiping out all their cattle.
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