27 September 2013- Seeking to enhance awareness of Upper Nile youth on the dangers of possessing small arms, different organizations today conducted a sensitization campaign in the state capital Malakal.

Thirteen youths from the state attended the workshop, which was organized by the Community Security for Small Arms Control Bureau in South Sudan, with funding from Adam Smith International’s Security Defense Transformation Program.

“The training is vital in identifying and listing the dangers of the circulation of small arms and light weapons to communities,” said John Deng Diing, Senior Inspector of the Bureau in the state.

During discussions facilitated by the UN Development Programme as well as the UNMISS Security Sector Reform and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration sections, participants called for more enlightenment at the grassroots level.

“Nothing (will be more) effective than awareness of our pastoral communities in issues related to cattle raids, tribal conflicts and the necessity of peaceful co-existence among the communities,” said Diwad Otor Awak, a participants.

Another participant, Ruot Wang Ruot, said he would share all the information he had learned from the training with other youth from his county.