UNMISS patrol reaches remote Ibba communities amidst heavy rains, insecurity, and growing health threats

(Photo Credit: UNMISS)

WESTERN EQUATORIA - Heavy rains and insecurity have left communities in Ibba County in Western Equatoria State even more isolated than before.

Determined to reach them, a recent UNMISS patrol travelled day and night on a tortuous journey to conquer the hundred kilometers of the almost impassable road connecting Yambio to Ibba County.

Large sections of the road are badly damaged, with deep potholes, mud, and flooding forcing vehicles to regularly slow down to almost walking pace. It wasn’t just the difficult terrain that posed challenges.

Recent attacks, vehicle ambushes, and abductions amplified the risks to the convoy.

But leaving the struggling communities behind was not an option.

“If you want to go to Maridi to buy goods for retail, it takes many hours. The road is bad and vehicles are being burned on the road. We also heard reports of armed men, and this increases fear because civilians from there have fled and are now staying with us,” explains Ibba County women leader, Monica Elia.

“This is big challenge — bumps, insecurity, and rain,” says businesswoman, Reida Ali Ahmed. “Reaching Maridi was difficult. Big trucks break down and sometimes block the road.”

The Juba–Mundri–Yambio highway is one of Western Equatoria's main supply routes. In the past, goods were also imported from Wau and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

But today, insecurity as well as concerns over the Ebola outbreak in the DRC have reduced these cross-border movements. For traders who depend on the road to move food and other essential commodities, those delays come at a high cost.

“The situation along the road is affecting us greatly because it is our lifeline,” stresses John Aurupai Anash, Ibba County Chief. In May, some of our sons travelled to Juba to buy goods. On their way back, they were abducted, and, to date, they have not been found.”

“Vehicles have been burned and our people have been killed. This is making life very difficult for us. Even for someone to travel and buy basic items such as salt for the community is becoming difficult, and prices are increasing.”

“On health, we are also concerned because we share a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he adds.

For UNMISS, the patrol provided an opportunity to project a physical peacekeeping presence along the main supply route and to engage directly with the community about security, economic, and humanitarian concerns in this remote area.

“We discussed many issues with the communities, local authorities, and community leaders, including road insecurity and poor conditions as well as the Ebola threat,” says United Nations Mission in South Sudan Military Observer, Senyo Kofi Dzamefe. “After gathering information and hearing the concerns raised, we will pass them on to the relevant authorities to see how we can best protect civilians.”

For residents of Ibba, concern has grown beyond road conditions or individual security incidents.

It is now about a dangerous cocktail of issues that don’t only impact freedom of movement but also threaten their survival.

By Okot Emmanuel

Source: https://unmiss.unmissions.org/en/news/unmiss-patrol-reaches-remote-ibba-communities-amidst-heavy-rains-insecurity-and-growing