South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR) on Saturday handed over 15 registered plots of land to vulnerable people in Bentiu town of Unity State.
Gizam Moses, the Project officer for Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources, said land rights are fundamental after the right to life, adding that they are obliged to lobby and advocate for the protection of land rights of the most vulnerable section of society.
“This is inevitable due to their inabilities to have their lands registered and acquire land registration documents to protect their rights to property ownership,” said Moses in a statement.
He called upon other partners in the State and in Juba to support the disadvantaged groups to set up shelters in their plots.
Unity State is recovering from the recent devastating conflicts and flooding.
Moses revealed that with funding support from the Norwegian Peoples’ Aid (NPA) they are now working together with local partners to address land acquisition challenges in the State.
“The beneficiaries who were identified and selected based on the state of their vulnerabilities ranged from people with visual impairment, physical disabilities, orphans, widows and war wounded composed the smallest portions in thousands who are in line of receiving similar support,” he said.
David Wal Khuol, the Chairperson of the Union of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who was one of the beneficiaries praised CSCNR for the great gift, adding that NPA should support PWDs through CSCNR to set up shelters on their plots as most of them are now returning to their homes.
“The union of PWDs has multitudes of vulnerable people whose plots are not registered, I asked CSCNR not to stop at the 15 people it supported, but to extend the help to hundreds and thousands of vulnerable groups in the State,” said Khuol.
Jal Puok Nhial, Member of Parliament in Unity State Legislative Assembly commended CSNR for supporting especially persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable people in Unity State.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of CSCNR and NPA to our people. We urge NPA to continue supporting CSCNR to champion such programs in our State for the betterment of our downtrodden communities,” said Nhial.
He added that the State parliament and the government of Unity State will initiate a program that ensures that everyone in the State has equal access to land resources.
