UNMISS support for community clean-up in Wau encourages displaced families to return

19 Feb 2019

UNMISS support for community clean-up in Wau encourages displaced families to return

Aweil Gadid was once a place that its people took pride in.

 

A clean and comfortable community.

 

But the eruption of violent conflict sent its families scurrying to safety, with many finding sanctuary at a United Nations protection site next to its base in Wau.

With desertion, came unwanted dirt and destruction of properties, with many overgrown by weeds.

But the signing of a new peace agreement in September and a reduction in violence has brought new life to the town as people gradually feel confident enough to make their way back home.

The unsightly environment they’re finding on return isn’t exactly appealing so a cleaning campaign is now underway, led by peacekeepers working for the United Nations Mission in Wau.

Local resident Regina Fidele is one of those getting satisfaction from lending a hand to the campaign.

“I work in Kur Lulu and Shuk Jou. We were brought here to clean,” she says. “The mayor called on people to come and help our people with the work of cleaning in Awiel Gedid.”

It is a joint effort that has mainly focused on cleaning up and rehabilitating neighbourhoods that were deserted and dilapidated by war. However, work is also being done to identify gaps in services that need to be addressed and to ensure the environment is safe so that people have the confidence to leave the protection site and go home.

“We will work on the security bit together with the government, as we have been doing – enhancing patrols in those areas, identifying some of the security issues that crop up, and ensuring that together with the government, we put a mechanism for addressing them immediately,” says the Head of the UNMISS field office in Wau, Sam Muhumure. “Beyond that, people also need assistance with food and shelter.”

The area administrator, Chief Angelo Ding, is grateful for the support.

“I am thanking the governor, the mayor and UNMISS - my neighbor who stood with us for a long time – stood with us during a difficult time,” he says. “Now, today you can see smoke: the smoke came from fire. The fire is the cleaning campaign.”

The chief says the clean-up is encouraging more people to return.

“Yes, those who have heard about the cleaning campaign have returned,” says Angelo Ding. “You see these women moving around? They are women who have come back to their homes. After we have cleaned for these places, everybody should start to build their shelter and stay in their homes.”

It is the second cleaning campaign in recent weeks and has attracted some 500 people. Many are joining the campaign with enthusiasm and with empathy for those who have suffered immensely after being displaced for so long.

They just want them to come home.