Lessons Learned from South Sudan Protection of Civilian Sites 2013–2016

21
Luua and Eliza
Malakal PoC Site
30–40 years old, Nuer
Luaa’s husband was killed in an attack on Malakal near
the beginning of the conflict. After the attack, her family
fled to the church in Malakal town and stayed there for
a month, hoping the situation would improve. When a
new attack was imminent, church leaders told the people
that they should move to the UNMISS base as they could
not guarantee their safety. Most of the people, including
Luaa, went to the base, but she had to leave her disabled
sister Eliza behind.
When fighters for SPLA-IO took over Malakal in March
2014, they came to the church and demanded money for
those staying there to be escorted to the UNMISS base.
People paid the money, but after they came out of the
church they were killed. Fewer than 30 people, mostly old
and disabled, were left alive, including Eliza. One healthy
man was left alive to take care of them. After three days,
UNMISS peacekeepers came to the church and took
them to the PoC site. The sisters now live in the PoC site
with eight children to take care of betweem them.
In addition to the relief support they receive, their primary
income comes from selling firewood and local brooms for
2 SSP each. The day before the interview, Luaa spent six
hours collecting firewood and cut open her foot. She says
going to the clinic to get it checked is pointless since she
will have to go out to collect firewood the next day and
there is no time for it to heal. To reduce the risk of rape
or abduction, the women travel in groups of 20 or more
as they fear being found in small groups. If they travel to
Malakal town, they are at the most risk, even if they are in
a group. They fear that if a couple soldiers find them they
will be forced to lie down and one of them will be taken
away to be raped. She has heard stories of this from other
women in the camp, as well as friends she knows.
Luaa and Eliza hope to return to Malakal town after
there is peace as that is where Luaa’s children were born
and so where her home is. They would like to continue to
do work like they did before the conflict when they sold
sand that they had cleared and dried as part of an NGO
income-generating project.