Update October 06

Returning home. David Gressly UN humanitarian coordinator living in Juba recently said, "The story of southern Sudan now is of people going home."

According to Gressly the big issue now is supporting those returning from outside the country as well as the IDPs (internally displaced persons).The UN is reporting staggering numbers of “up to four million IDPs and 500,000 refugees returning home annually.” Even though “humanitarian activities in Sudan have picked up, especially in southern Sudan” the obstacles remaining are many. However Southern Sudan’s daunting problems have been overshadowed because “international and media attention has shifted to yet another volatile area of the vast country - the Darfur region.”

What people have quickly forgotten is that for over 20 years Southern Sudan suffered the same crimes against humanity that are now happening in Darfur in northwestern Sudan. It is impossible for the South to recover from this kind of total devastation in just two short years of peace. Southern Sudan still needs the focus of the world.

Gressly reports “Sudan has the largest IDP population in the world, this creates enormous challenges for humanitarian actors in providing basic services such as food, shelter, healthcare and education to the IDPs, returnees and host communities.”"Those coming are returning to areas with no services, by and large," he said. "If we were to provide the appropriate level of support for water, for example, even if we defined it as one borehole for 500 people, which is not a good standard, we would need about 20,000 boreholes to be built in southern Sudan." We at Safe Harbor are hoping to drill at least one borehole this year but at $10,000 per well this is a challenging task for us. The UN reminds us that the “most pressing needs of the returnees and IDPs are food, shelter, water, healthcare and education.” These people also have huge emotional and spiritual needs which we are attempting to address.

Oil troubles. On the economical/political front tensions are rising over profit sharing of oil revenues. According to Sudan News Net the South Sudan Defense Front (SSDF), has threatened to attack SPLA positions because they claim that the oil money is being mishandled and that their people are not getting a fair share of the benefits. Sudan is now the third largest oil producing nation in Africa, yet the South is still totally impoverished.

De-mining efforts continue. According to UN rep Gressly, "January to March is hot, with temperatures ranging from 45-50 degrees. We are hoping, during this time, to de-mine roads. We have funding through the mission and donors to survey and clear nearly 12,000 km of roads." Just remember that these “Roads” would hardly qualify as off road trails to us.

Louise Short and Karen Grubbs are currently in Sudan. Louise is in Juba in meetings with Manase Lamole and others. Karen is in Liwolo participating as an instructor in a Children’s ministry workers intensive. This has been a tremendously blessed year for our efforts in Sudan. There have been thousands of conversions, we are working hard to disciple them. We have a solid core young leaders that we are raising up. We have planted churches. We have done lots of mentoring and training. We have served thousands of meals. All of this is because of the Great mercy and grace of God and because it is his time to move in Southern Sudan. Please keep praying for us.
Gary Short
Sources: IRIN, Sudannews.net