Br Denis Loft
Malakal news from Br Denis
Well I have just returned to Malakal, where I hope to stay till the end of the year. I was in Yambio for the Independence Day celebrations, and even though it is far from the Capital, Juba, it was still a treat to be part of a crowd so keen on celebrating their longed-for freedom after so many years of suffering, war and persecution. We arrived about 11 and left about 4, and experienced a number of speeches, entertainment, march-pasts, and acrobats. The highlight was without doubt the change of flags, the new national anthem which everyone learned, and the declaration by the Governor of the Independence of South Sudan. More than half of Yambio gathered at the sports stadium for the event. When we arrived we were escorted to the back of the grandstand, and then someone went and got seats for us at the front of the stadium – honoured guests! Everyone was supplied with a snack of water or soft drink and a few biscuits. Attached are a few shots of the enthusiasm of the crowd, note the army – fortunately their trigger finger was not dancing. The poor builder here in Malakal has been hampered by all kinds of problems. Most goods to Malakal have in the past come from the North. Some barges are impounded by the North after they are loaded, another was loaded here in Malakal with beans and sank in the port.. There is nothing around capable of removing it, causing more problems. At present half the [...]
Dry and dusty
I notice Malakal made the BBC News again today. It wasn’t here, but near enough for the BBC! “57 dead as miliia fights SPLA” It was actually on Saturday, 30km from here, and sadly there seems to have been as many civilian deaths as army. Derek from the UN who came for Easter brunch with us was involved in getting 35 children from the fighting area to the hospital. Horrible stories that one really doesn’t want to hear at Easter. There was also some shooting at the other end of Malakal on Sat night but we didn’t hear it as we were joyously celebrating in Church. The ceremony started at 7 pm and finished at 11.45!! I slipped out at 9 at the start of the baptisms (313 in total), and returned at 10, just as they finished. Betty, an Irish nun, informed me I’d only missed ”more of the same”. Sunday lunch at 3pm was memorable. Thady, an Irishman from the UN, bought a huge turkey. I did desserts, others vegies etc. Wines, whiskey and beer. It all flowed. The Irish nuns certainly like a drop of the doin’s! Our finish in Leer was exciting. On the last day the local Commissioner authorised the recruitment of 250 men for the SPLA from Leer. His method was to send police and army to houses from midnight on, and grab any men aged 20 to 30 to take them to his compound. When classes started, we heard that 4 teachers had been grabbed. After an hour [...]
Br Denis reports on life in Leer (Southern Sudan)
After bunkering down in Malakal for 36 hours, avoiding rampant gunfire, we had a week of quiet. Then demining teams came through looking for unexploded shells, and life was back to normal. One shell they missed was found only when school returned in the High School next door. It came through the roof, didn’t go off, and embedded itself in the concrete floor. They finally managed to decommission the UXD without exploding it, and ruining the building – that would have ruined our back fence!Have been in Leer 2 weeks now – 6 to go. Weather is not as bad as it will be. Today started at 27, and will probably rise to about 37. A wind dries everything out rapidly, and spreads a fine layer of dust over all. In Malakal I could put my laundry on the line at 8.30am and bring it in at 9am – bone dry. Here I wash after showering in the evening, and it dries overnight in my bedroom! I do have to spread it out.Classes have started. We walk from the mission compound at 8.30 and don’t get back till 5.30. It’s about 25 mins there, but longer on the way home as my feet drag, and it feels about 60º in the sun.Most of our second years returned, but we have only 12 in first year so far, and one of those is a bit dodgy. Named Angelina, a misnomer, she hasn’t managed a full day yet. She is the first student I have not warmed [...]
Tense and Hot
Had a rather uneventful trip back here. 5 hours in Bangkok airport, where I had to go through immigration to get my bags, take them up 2 flights and get back in through customs. Lucky I had 5 hours because I had to queue for over n hour to get back in! Then a 7 hour stop at Nairobi airport. On arrival at Juba I went to bed at 4pm, got up at 6am, and headed here to Malakal. At Juba airport we couldn’t taxi up to the terminal as there was a red carpet rolled out for some dignitary who was going to front – hopefully soon – as the soldiers waiting for him looked already pretty weak from standing in the hot sun. I wouldn’t want to be a Sudanese army bandsman as they were wearing a wonderful looking red jacket of rich red wool!!! An Armenia Air plane, and brand new army helicopters were the other interesting changes. At the house I was reminded I was back in Sudan by the little things – the doors with no handles, leaking plumbing, dusty rutted roads, and people standing around with nothing to do. I had also forgotten how hot the cold water is in the middle of the day, so my shower before the nap was cleansing rather than refreshing! Malakal has been marvellous until last night. The weather has been relatively cool. Nothing over 40, and a sheet needed in the early hours of the morning. Wind not too strong so the [...]
