On the march
Welcome smile
September 2nd
Spent some time in Rumbek with P today, helping to interview people who have applied to do a new midwifery course, which is a 3 year course in Wau (about 6 hours by rough road North of here). There has been a lot of interest in this course as it is the very first one in South Sudan. All the midwives in the country currently are Ugandan or Kenyan, with a few Sudanese who have done their training outside of this country and come back.

Only one girl, and 6 men. I really wanted the girl to do well but with 3 children and no family support and very little schooling (gleaned when she attempted to do the written exam), she did not stand a chance. We have identified 2 candidates, so all the papers will be sent to Wau, and the Diocese of Rumbek will try to find sponsors for them.

At the moment, I am sitting in a class room invigilating, while 13 students sit their end of introductory block exam. This one is Professionalism and Fundamentals in Nursing. The first student has just left the room after 2hrs (2 1/2 hr paper): O dear, first question, what is a low temperature called?
Answer:- Hypotension!!!! Hope the others improve.

During this exam session, there was a lot of noise outside, stamping of feet, whistles blowing. It was, I think, SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) training, running around the outside of the hospital compound in full gear + guns. There seems to be a battalion of them ready for the big meeting. BUT we heard yesterday that it had been postponed as some of the governors in Juba (capital) are too busy. We will see if these people get a peace agreement. At least the grounds are free of rubbish after the intensive clean up!!

One of the students started to tell me about the fighting that took place here in March/April this year and how it had affected his family. It was inter-tribal fighting, but no less vicious for that.
He lived in a small compound (an area of land that is surrounded by a small fence, where the family had 3 thatched huts and a few chickens and 6 goats; they also had a small store for grain). Located in behind the hospital with 10 of his family members. On the outside area they had planted some sorghum, and maize. Close by were the family’s 8 cows, their pride and joy. So they were quite a wealthy family as things go around here.

There had been some tribal fighting just before Easter in some villages about 10k’s away but this night it came to Mapourdit. An armed gang burst into his compound, shot his uncle and started burning their huts. The rest of the family fled into the surrounding bush terrified but unharmed. Their cows and other livestock were rounded up and stolen along with their grain. They lost everything, as did other compounds in the area. A small child was also killed that night.

The next day when the families returned there was nothing left. Everything burnt to the ground and two dead and many injured. Hundreds of people were without shelter. The Brothers’ compound was opened, the hospital and the school, so displaced people could stay there, as they felt safe. Most of the patients left to travel to see if their homes were attacked. Some of the staff left fearing for their lives, as they were from the same tribe that had attacked (many still have not returned).

All available emergency supplies of food, mosquito nets and blankets were given out. The UN came a week later to help distribute other supplies. The sisters gave as many families as possible some cash to help with clothing, containers for water etc.
The nurse who was telling me this story, is still sleeping rough with his family until they can get at least one hut built again. They have started re-planting a crop around their compound. His mother has been very disturbed by this experience, as it rekindled many memories. She had been pregnant with this boy when she had to flee from her home 23 years ago, during the war with the North of Sudan.