06 June 2008

Abyei, Sudan: After years of north-south war, the signing of Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in early 2005 meant refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) could go back to their places of origin.  Therefore 'returns' are a major component of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) mandate.

The Return, Reintegration and Recovery (RRR) unit is responsible for the coordination, planning and monitoring of the whole process. As a 'triple R' officer, I assist people as they come home and guide them as they begin to rebuild their lives.

The place where I work, Abyei, is unique. Usually, the UN organizes the return of people but here returns were spontaneous. Between January and May 2008, about 15,000 returned to Abyei. We had to coordinate very closely with other UN agencies, NGOs and the regional country office.

When convoys of returnees come to Abyei, our office along with NGOs prepares a reception site.  It is a unique feeling to see how happy returnees are when they arrive, after being gone for so many years. Women gather singing and celebrating their arrival in their homeland. It does pay off all the hard work we do.

The moment they get here, we start the reintegration process. When people have been away for 20 years they lose agricultural and other vocational skills. I remember one person who we obtained training for under our Quick Impact Project (QIP) programme – he now works as a welder. When you are literally rebuilding, you need people like that who can contribute in a practical way. It's good for them, and good for the community.

We also trained community chiefs and leaders in reintegration, for example via projects to make 'tukuls', shelters for returnees to use while they build their own.

During the dry season I am constantly on field trips in order to make assessments about the villages, including the remote ones.  The goal is to collect and update a database of information (number of households, access to water, education, health, livelihoods etc.).  The information is used to coordinate reintegration activities with UN agencies, NGOs and local authorities.

Street children have been an increasing problem in Abyei as the town develops.  They were perceived by the local population as troublemakers as they spend their time in the market looking for small jobs, tips, or food. As a result, some of those children end up suffering violence and at times are even arrested by local authorities. 

Although the idea of teaching street children was perceived as unrealistic in the beginning, with the approval and support of local authorities we went ahead. We started classes for street children, taught by volunteers. It started with 12 children and after two weeks the number rose to 40!

An hour of classes a day three times a week, at the end of a long day in the field, was tough.  The children had a lot of energy and needed individual assistance. Some didn't even know how to hold a pen.  But all our efforts paid off.  It was amazing to see how happy the children were when they were able to write the letters of the alphabet.  At the end of the class, they were given cookies, bought with money donated by volunteering teachers.  

My background is in political affairs, having worked for five years at the US embassy in Brazil. I recently completed an MA in Peacekeeping Management from the University of Turin, and also hold a post-graduate qualification in Local Economic Development and a BA in International Relations. It's always been my dream to join UNV and use the skills and knowledge I have built up.

Unfortunately, I had to leave Abyei on 14 May when clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) erupted.  I guess being a peacekeeping volunteer requires those sad moments, when you have to leave your work and all you have built behind. 

However, I still hope and believe Abyei will have long-lasting peace some day. I share the visions and values of the UN and UNV, and I am proud of being part of them. I believe in the programme and think I have contributed to it a lot. Sometimes you can change lives.