By Waure Eddy
The Director of CAFOD/Trocaire, Mika Jokivuori, has visited the Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CODEP-CDTY) in Western Equatoria State to assess ongoing humanitarian projects, meet church leaders and engage with communities affected by displacement.
The visit marks Jokivuori’s first trip to the state and comes as CODEP continues implementing humanitarian and development projects supported by CAFOD/Trocaire, one of the organization’s long-standing partners.
Speaking to the press, CODEP Director Fr. Charles Mbikoyo said the visit was initiated by Jokivuori to meet CODEP officials and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura-Yambio.
“The Director, who is new to the country, decided to visit CODEP-CDTY to meet the Bishop and staff. He has begun visiting areas where CAFOD implements projects through local organizations,” Fr. Mbikoyo said.
Fr. Mbikoyo said the visit would include tours of project implementation sites, where Jokivuori would meet beneficiaries, assess the impact of ongoing interventions and listen to the challenges facing affected communities.
He urged CODEP staff to cooperate with the visiting Director, participate actively in discussions and provide updates on humanitarian needs across the state.
The CODEP director also called on staff to accompany Jokivuori to areas hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) to help him understand their living conditions and hear their concerns firsthand.
However, Fr. Mbikoyo acknowledged that insecurity continues to restrict humanitarian access to some areas, saying CODEP would brief the visiting Director on the challenges and the needs of communities that aid organizations cannot readily reach.
“ He will also go to the field to see where we have implemented projects, speak with beneficiaries, observe the projects’ impact and listen to the challenges people are facing. Western Equatoria State is full of IDPs. We now have fresh displacement from Congo due to fears surrounding the Ebola outbreak. There are IDPs in Nabanga, and even if we cannot reach them, we will try to share their situation and needs, as well as those of other IDPs in Western Equatoria State,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jokivuori expressed appreciation for the warm reception he received upon arriving in Western Equatoria State for the first time.
“This place is very good and peaceful. People need to live together and develop a place where peace is stable, which will develop faster,” Jokivuori said.
He said his visit would include engagements with CODEP officials, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura-Yambio, internally displaced people and other officials to discuss humanitarian needs and ongoing response efforts.
The visit is expected to strengthen cooperation between CAFOD/Trocaire and CODEP and provide the humanitarian partner with a clearer understanding of conditions on the ground, including the challenges facing displaced and other vulnerable communities.
CODEP hopes the visit will help strengthen the partnership and create further opportunities to expand humanitarian and development support in Western Equatoria State and beyond.
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