South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
As part of its ongoing efforts to promote long-term recovery and stability in South Sudan, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has constructed durable shelters for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Wau town, Western Bahr el Ghazal State. This initiative provides families with secure homes and a renewed sense of normalcy after years of uncertainty.
Through the Durable Solutions Project, IOM has constructed brick houses for 1,000 beneficiaries in Khor Malang, which is located approximately 4 kilometres from Wau town.
The project, funded by the Norwegian government, is part of IOM’s initiatives to support government efforts in finding sustainable solutions for IDPs in Naivasha and Hai Masna.
Christine Ibrahim, a 38-year-old mother of four, described the shelter as life-changing.
After arriving at the Naivasha IDP camp in 2016 due to violence, she and her children lived in a temporary tent made of dry wood and covered with cloth.
Today, thanks to IOM, she now has a two-bedroom house with a toilet, situated on the outskirts of Wau town.
The 38-year-old widow, whose husband was killed during the violence in Wau in 2016, expressed that the shelter has restored hope for her and her children.
“I never thought in my life that I would get my own home; now I have a house that I can call my home,” Ibrahim said.
She added that the durable shelters not only offer safety and security but also restore community unity, as different families now reside together.
She called on the government to deploy police to the area for protection and safety.
“We can’t come here and stay alone; we need soldiers or police to be deployed here to protect us so that we can live happily with our children without fear of insecurity.”
Photo shows local constructing of the houses in Khor Malang (Photo by Awan Achiek)
The IOM helps IDPs secure new homes that provide protection and are designed to withstand harsh winds and flash floods.
The IDPs were displaced from Jur County and Wau County during the 2016 violence.
The organisation has constructed 400 shelters for displaced individuals, while 600 households have received financial assistance for housing.
Valued at $5 million and financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project aims to assist 10,000 internally displaced persons from the Naivasha IDP camp and the Hai Masna collective centre.
Mary Madut, a 30-year-old mother of six, stated that this is her first time owning a home.
“I was staying at the Naivasha IDP camp; life was very hard for me and my children because I didn’t have a roof over my head.”
The durable shelters are designed and built collaboratively by local entrepreneurs, community members, and displaced persons, benefiting all parties involved in the process.
The materials such as doors, windows, and bricks used for constructing the shelters are produced by local groups comprising skilled carpenters, masons, and others.
This approach provides them with an opportunity to earn money for their household needs while supporting the humanitarian response.
Displaced persons also learn new skills, such as bricklaying and ceiling repair, which they can market to earn a living.
One of carpenters working on windows and doors for the shelter at Khor Malang (Photo by Awan Achiek)
Asi Momo Edward, the team leader of carpenters, stated that they are producing windows and doors for the shelters.
“We are producing doors for big and small houses, windows and doors for toilets, and all types of houses,” Edward said.
He mentioned that they earn about $100 each week from the materials produced for the shelters, which he uses to cover basic family needs.
This project empowers four women out of twenty individuals through brick-making, a trade that has traditionally been male-dominated.
The group produces over 700 bricks daily each month, selling each at SSP 80,000.
Their efforts not only provide a stable income to women but also reduce their dependency on men, thereby mitigating domestic violence linked to financial struggles.
Workers laying bricks at Khor Malang (Photo by Awan Achiek)
Flora Natali, a 40-year-old woman, faced dire circumstances after her husband abandoned her with six children in Wau town.
With no source of income, she joined the group and underwent training for two weeks.
The venture has not only supported her family but has also enabled her to invest in savings.
“We have learned a lot of skills, which are beneficial to ourselves and the country as a whole. The bricks we are laying are strong and of good quality,” Natali said.
She highlighted the importance of empowering women in professions traditionally seen as male-dominated, such as bricklaying, welding, and carpentry.
“Per day we can produce 700 bricks, and we earn 80,000 SSP, which I use to buy food for my children, pay school fees, and cover other expenses.”
She encouraged women facing financial hardships and denied basic needs by their partners to work for themselves to care for their children.
“Don’t be lazy; you can do jobs that men do. It may seem hard at first, but once you start, it becomes easier.”
Daro Charles, IOM Project Assistance Engineer at the Wau branch, stated that they have started building shelters for 400 households, including those with special needs, in Khor Malang.
“The 400 shelters are being constructed by a group of skilled people, both carpenters and masons, sourced from both the IDP community and the host community,” Charles said.
He explained that the land covers approximately 1.2 square kilometres, with plots measuring 20 meters by 20 meters.
Public spaces have been designated, including police posts, schools, religious facilities, health facilities, and playgrounds.
Two water yards have been installed, each with a capacity to produce approximately 50,000 to 100,000 litres, along with 15 distribution points.
“Initially, they were producing only 200 bricks, but now a group is producing up to 700 bricks. So, when you produce 100 or 1,000, you earn about $80,” he said.
The project began in December 2022 and is anticipated to be completed by December of this year.
“Our target is to ensure this project is finished by December. Once the shelter construction is complete, we will encourage people to move in.”
Julio Emmanuel Mama, Chief Executive Officer of Wau Municipal Council, stated that the plots have been allocated to the families permanently.
“The area has been demarcated, sized 20 by 20, but because the number of beneficiaries is large, each plot has been divided into four. We have allocated the numbers and documents, and all of them are registered in the court,” Emmanuel said.