Grain to be distributed in Malakal; call on Sudanese traders to return

A small number of people has remained in the Malakal UN base in South Sudan, but the majority have returned to their houses. They found the market burned, shops destroyed, and face an acute shortage of food and services. Adviser for Rural Development in Upper Nile State, Chol Nyawella Akuei described to Radio Tamazuj how the security situation in the capital of Upper Nile State has become relatively calm and stable. He still remembers how the recent battle in Malakal town between pro-Machar groups and the SPLA-forces of President Kiir caused panic among the citizens. “You can find a small number of people still hiding in the UNMISS base, due to rumours that the rebels may come back and will attack the town anytime,” he said. In an interview on Tuesday, Akuei noticed that a large number of people have now returned. “The State government is working hard to put an end to the suffering of people in the town,” he added. A committee being formed by the Governor, will assess the damage caused by the recent violent conflict. “The losses and the damages are huge particularly to the market. I can’t estimate it without a thorough probe. I know that some Sudanese traders and shop keepers who were completely cleaned-out during the conflict have travelled to Sudan”, Nyawella confirmed. “They have to come back so that losses incurred by them during the conflict can be compensated after scrutinising their licenses and the size of damage caused as well as the goods looted from their shops”, he emphasized. In terms of the humanitarian situation of the sufferers, he reassures that grain in the warehouses will be distributed to the citizens according to directives of the Governor of Upper Nile State, Simon Kun Puoc. (File photo Albert González Farran / Unamid)