Kiwi trying to make a difference

Major Cory Neale shares a bottle of water and a toy helicopter with children in South Sudan....
Major Cory Neale shares a bottle of water and a toy helicopter with children in South Sudan. Photo supplied.

I am deployed as a military liaison officer for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

South Sudan is the newest country in the world, after gaining independence from its northern neighbour, Sudan, in 2011.

Sudan had been through half a century of civil war and South Sudan is a fragile state with acute challenges.

Since independence, South Sudan has struggled to find its feet as a country and this led to the most recent crisis which began in Juba, the country's capital, on December 15 last year.

This triggered significant bloodshed and it is important to realise that this is an armed society, where weapon proliferation is normal practice, because weapons provide a symbol of status and power.

UNMISS was initially set up under a mandate to support the newly formed government.

However, the mandate changed to focus primarily on the protection of civilians.

It is estimated that more than 50,000 South Sudanese people have lost their lives during the conflict.

The dry season is under way and is traditionally a time when fighting is most likely to occur.

This year has been no exception with battles occurring almost daily, mainly in the three conflict states, including Jonglei, where I am based.

South Sudan is relatively lawless.

There is police and a justice system, just like in New Zealand, but cultural practices such as cattle-raiding, revenge attacks and other acts of violence are generally accepted as a way of life.

Medicine is in short supply and has led to a resurgence of antiquated diseases such as polio and rubella among children.

The infant mortality rate sits at more than 10% of all live births.

There is no fuel for machinery, without machinery there is no planting of crops, no crops to harvest means that there is no food to buy or sell.

When the situation becomes desperate, villagers will walk for up to two weeks to get basic medicines and foods.

The country is large, at 620,000sq km, and extremely fertile. With development, South Sudan could have a viable primary industry.

The desire among the population for agricultural industry is there and if the country found peace then they could use this to their advantage.

Can South Sudan find peace?

Yes it can, although the journey has been a long one and it is likely to be some time before peace can flourish.

But I am here, away from my friends and family to play a small six-month part for the greater good in South Sudan.

 


Major Cory Neale

• Grew up in Balclutha, South Otago.

• Attended South Otago High School 1996-2000.

• Serves with the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

• Military liaison officer for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.


 

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