16 October 2014
Good afternoon. It’s 1pm and this is Radio Miraya news with Agole Alex
The headlines:
- Citizens in oil producing fields of Unity state call for safeguards against pollution
- Police in Nimule hunts for suspects in a string of robbery incidents
- Western Equatoria State Sports Minister arrives in Juba for discussions on sports promotion
Citizens living in the oil producing counties of Unity state are sounding fresh concerns about the rising environmental pollution from the oil fields.
Speaking to Radio Miraya in Leer County, Unity State Community Liaison Officer George Gatloi Koang said some oil pipelines that were damaged in the ongoing conflict are highly likely to trigger health complications for the people living close to the oil producing sites.
George Gatloi Koang: “Nowadays, there are some pipelines that are leaking and the oil is now mixed with water. We can see that this is a threat to the community. If someone wants to drink water around or if cattle drink the water, then it can cause a lot of problem. As you know that the oil is combined with chemicals which are a threat to human consumption. This is terrible. That’s why I discussed it with the group that came from UNMISS in Bentiu.”
Officials in Unity State’s Tharjieth Black 5A oil field have reported that three oil wells were damaged after the engineers fled following the fighting between two rival factions.
Gatloi is asking the international community and parties to the conflict to find ways of safeguarding the people from pollution related health complications.
Police in Nimule are hunting for suspects behind a string of robberies in Nimule town.
The suspected robbers armed with a pistol and an AK47 rifle stormed Nimule town on Wednesday morning, raided a home of a money changer and robbed him of 5000 South Sudanese Pounds and more than two million Ugandan shillings.
The suspects also stormed a village and raided another household of more than 4000 South Sudanese pounds.
Emilio Igga, the Pageri Chief area Administrator, has confirmed the strings of robberies.
Emilio Igga: “Two guys came to his door and shot at it. They forced him to open the door and robbed him of 5,000 South Sudanese Pounds and two million Ugandan shillings and then took the wallet which contained a little money. The same day, they broke into a house of somebody and robbed him of 4,200SSP and took his Nokia phone and also went to an elderly women but she was just helpless and could not do anything. The CID they are trying to trace them to see whether they are within and if the network is still going on.”
No arrests have been made and the suspected robbers are still at large.
Meanwhile, police in Juba are reporting a noted improvement in security, since the 777 Emergency call centers were introduced a few months ago.
Police spokesperson Col. James Monday Enoka says more than 900 suspected criminals have been arrested since the centers were opened in July for the general public to report cases of crime.
Enoka says there are still isolated cases reported.
Col. Enoka: “Since we introduced our emergency call center, we have apprehended more than 995 criminals. We are improving, but we will not eliminate crimes. No crime can be eliminated – it can be reduced. And you can see that the rate of crime has reduced in Juba. I can tell you, if you look at the records now which we are soon going to release, for this year there is a very big improvement and you can even be a witness. We are improving our capacity. Now we are stopping these crimes and criminals.”
In another development, investigations continue into the disappearance of 300,000 South Sudanese pounds from the Police headquarters in Buluk, Juba.
The money, meant for police salaries for the month of September went missing last week under unclear circumstances.
Police spokesperson Col. James Monday Enoka says 15 suspects have been arrested so far.
Col. Enoka: ““Fifteen people have been subjected to investigation – those who were working that day – and if they are police personnel, they will face the police emergency court in Buluk.As I talk, investigations are still progressing. When the investigations are over, a report will be submitted to the Inspector General of Police who will either refer the case to the military Police court that is there or form another specific court.”
Jonglei’s Agriculture Minister, Mayen Ngor Atem, is calling upon communities returning to their homes to embark on farming, so as to close the gap in food insecurity.
The call by the Minister comes as the country marks world food day today.
He says the predominantly pastoral communities should cultivate to ensure a harvest in the next season.
Mayen Ngor Atem: “Jonglei State is one of the most hard-hit by this conflict, but still we are optimistic that peace will be coming. Then the big issue will be hunger. There (may) be famine. We must come up with some strategies to overturn the country’s crop deficit from food shortages and let our people produce.”
In a related development, the World Food Program (WFP) is pledging to reach more internally displaced people in areas worst affected by the conflict.
The UN organization also assures that it will improve the livelihoods of communities in areas not directly affected by the conflict.WFP made the pledge ahead of the World Food day today.
The organization’s Deputy Country Director, Edie Rowe says there is need for humanitarian agencies to widen their activities in conflict areas and focus on development and sustainable programs.
Eddie Rowe: “We have two approaches, because of the conflict: We will continue to save lives and avert famine, and in areas where we have opportunities, we will work with communities to improve on their food security and also develop very robust resilience program that will allow these communities to develop.”
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Farmers in Upper Nile have started harvesting this year’s produce of sesame seeds.
Harvests are being realized from 15,000 feddans in Renk and Melut, the only counties where cultivation took place on account of the fighting in the State.
The Deputy Secretary General of the state farmers union, Haj Weil Lual, says the sesame crop will be sold to Sudanese traders.
Lual says cultivation was done without support from the government. He explains the challenges faced.
Weil Lual: “We managed to cultivate thisseason, thank God. Thecountry is facing a rebellionandbad things. The governmenthas notsentus any money, but we cultivatedsesame inRenk and Melutcounties. No areas were cultivated in Malakal, Akobo, Baleit and Mang. Thank God the army secured the area and secured the sesame and the workers have gone to the fields to harvest the crop”.
And in regional news, 35 people who caught the Ebola virus and survived are meeting in Sierra Leone for two days to discuss what they can do to help allay fears about the disease.
According to a recent study by the UN Children's Fund UNICEF, which is co-organizing the event, 96 per cent of the 1,400 households surveyed discriminated against people suspected of being infected with the virus.
Christophe Bouleriac of UNICEF told a UN reporter in New York these survivors could help patients manage their anxiety in the various Ebola treatment centers.
Christophe Bouleriac: "The purpose is two-fold. First we want to provide the 35 survivors, who will participate in this conference, with the psychosocial support they need. We know they are facing a lot of stigma. We know that they went through terrible trauma and they need assistance. But it is not only that. We also would like to create a pool of experts… people who are immune and who can help us working with children especially in quarantine environment."
In sports, Western Equatoria State Minister for Youth and Sports Gibson Bullen has arrived in Juba for an official meeting with the National Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.
The two officials are expected to discuss ways of improving the country’s sports sector.
While in Juba, Gibson will also meet heads of some sports associations to discuss how to promote sports activities at state level.
Gibson Bullen: “I began with meeting the handball body. We had a meeting where I explained to them how the handball is going in the state and also what are the ideas that we have for extending the activities from the state headquarters to the other counties. I also had a meeting with the team of boxing as we are looking at how to establish a boxing association in Western Equatoria State.”
To end the news, the main stories once again:
- Citizens in oil producing fields of Unity state call for safeguards against pollution
- Police in Nimule hunts for suspects in a string of robbery incidents
- Western Equatoria State Sports Minister arrives in Juba for discussions on sports promotion
You have been listening to Radio Miraya news. I am Agole Alex. Have a nice day.
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