South Sudan’s war widows and orphans appeal for support

Although they are considered heroes and heroines in public discourse, even in South Sudan’s national anthem, many of them feel forgotten.

War widows like Maria Gideon want the Martyrs Survivors Scheme Fund, a government program, to pay for the schooling of children who lost their parents and to support projects to aid widows’ efforts to earn their livelihoods.

We widows have been patient,” she said. We don’t have income to educate our children. We’re asking for plots of land and construction of low-cost houses.”

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Earlier support has been inadequate, she added.

Many of them gathered in Juba to voice their concerns on Martyrs’ Day, designated by the government to honour the war dead on 30 July, the anniversary of the helicopter crash in 2005 that killed John Garang, the founder of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Simon Pitia Nyambur, a war orphans representative, emphasised the need to look after war widows and orphans as a way of remembering the husbands and fathers who lost their lives in Sudan’s civil war.

Rebecca Nyandeng, John Garang's widowHe called for the provision of scholarships, low-cost housing facilities for war widows, and greater recognition of fallen soldiers by naming streets, bridges and other public places after them.

We also need representatives in state and national assemblies to take care of the needs of orphans and widows,” Nyambur said.

Pledging the support of war orphans in the government’s nation-building challenges, he praised the rule of law as the driving force of South Sudan.

Rebecca Nyandeng, John Garang’s widow, also urged the government to play a vital role in helping war survivors.

Don’t forget me and my children,” she told President Salva Kiir, who presided over the celebrations.

She called on South Sudanese citizens to be vigilant in monitoring government services.

The heroes did not die in vain... bulding this nation is a befitting tribute to them.” President Salva Kiir, 30 JulyMs. Nyandeng, who is also a presidential adviser on gender issues and human rights, cautioned against ethnic discrimination. People want a government of representation, she said, not one of tribal affiliations.

The deputy governor of Central Equatoria State, Manase Lomole, assured war widows and orphans that his government would to ask communities to make land available for housing.

Lomole called for hard work to fight poverty and ignorance, saying it was now up to South Sudanese citizens to foster the nation's development in the absence of those who died in battle.

Let us maintain the strong spirit of unity exhibited in the trenches during war, the referendum and independence,” Lomole said.

See also the ‘Southern Sudan War Disabled, Widows and Orphans Commission’s’ website.

The Government of South Sudan established the War Disabled, Widows and Orphans Commission to provide social services and ensure equal rights and opportunities for wounded or bereaved war survivors.

The Government of the Republic of South Sudan will continue to do everything possible to care for the families of our fallen heroes and heroines,” said President Kiir during Independence Day celebrations on 9 July.

Now the war widows and orphans want to make sure he keeps his promise.