For several
times we have been attending some brief gatherings with some political leaders
of the area. Every time they are inviting us to keep calm and to trust that the
security in our area is okay. And in order to avoid any distraction, they are
inviting us to take some measures of prevention as not wearing light clothes in
open places, to switch off the lights during the night, to darken the colors of
some of our roofs, etc…
Nevertheless,
the bombing in Kadugli, the capital of Southern Sudan, as in the head of our
county Heiban, with the killing of great number of soldiers and civilians, has
created some panic in our area. As a
result, government and diocesan schools were closed; the absenteeism of many
students was very evident.
Last Thursday,
June 9, all the expatriate teachers (43) were evacuated plus some builders and
one religious sister and one religious brother.
Several
reasons brought out the second group of personnel to be evacuated, and it was
formed by the rest of the expatriate builders (four), the field coordinator and
one religious sister. At our arrival to the airstrip, a plane was arriving too.
This plane was to take out some teachers from an NGO.
However, the
quiet atmosphere in the airstrip was to changed very soon…
Some men in
the airstrip started shouting and telling us to run and hide themselves under the
trees because the antonovs and MiGs were arriving to attack the airstrip…
Oh God, some
bombing!
Everybody
started running here and there. People were urging each other to hide
themselves and lay down under the trees. The sound of those aircraft was
perceived almost immediately and everybody in his or her own way started
praying. Suddenly the sound of a bomb was heard mixed with some shots. The
panic increased among those of us who were there.
After that
sound, we were told to run again and to lay down under further trees, and once
more to stand up and to run again towards further trees. A father and mother of
a family were running with us carrying their two and one-year old children.
My sister told
me: “I can’t run anymore… I feel my legs without strength…”
We did not
have any other choice. So, assisting her we were able to run again and to hide
ourselves with other people.
All these
movements were involved by the high sound of an antonov and two military jets…
Lying under the last chosen tree, I could see a big jet flying very fast like
towards us…
Oh, my Lord!
So, the sound of another bomb and more shooting…
Our prayers
every time were increasing mixed with tears surrounding ourselves before our
God.
I could see
a big line of smoke in the direction of UNMIS headquarters… And again the last
bomb was heard… At this point we remained speechless…
After that,
the sound of the aircrafts was disappearing little by little and when they had
gone from our area, we were invited to stand up. Thank God, apparently all of
us were saved!
Soon the
teachers were called to board their plane which was not destroyed by the bombs;
out of six people, three boarded it and the other three missed the plane that could
not wait for them anymore.
And the
plane for our personnel was informed of the events and turned back to Kenya.
Arriving to
our village we could perceived that he bombing was still going on; the bombing
took place from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. approximately. A great anxiety and
tension was felt in our mission. Some staffs left the working places that day.
The next day
at 8:00 a.m. the sound of another Antonov was heard in the distance…
May the Lord
assist us!
54 wounded
soldiers and one woman were admitted to the hospital during these days. All the
soldiers came out from the clashes between northern and southern armies from
different fronts.
There are
many wounded soldiers but there is the lack of transport to bring all of them
to the hospital. Right now the male ward is full, part of maternity and female
wards are used for the wounded soldiers.
One of the
biggest problems is the lack of personnel and room to accommodate patients. The
administration is looking for some tents.
The OPD had
been reduced; in a day they receive 20 patients from 300 that used to be.
People have disappear due to fear.
German
doctors have closed their clinic, so did Save the Children; most NGOs had left the
area.
One of the
wounded soldiers reported that the NCP in Kadugli was going house to house to
look for SPLM supporters; if they get them they are killing them.
Some of the
wounded soldiers want to go back to fight; they are not giving up.
The
personnel who were attempting to travel this Tuesday, finally left yesterday and
with them the expatriate staff from the Hospital with exception of the Medical
Director of the Hospital who is also a surgeon and two sisters nurses.
Due the
tension that surrounds our area, the radio decided to continue working, giving
their service to the community.
The idea of
stopping the work for fear of any danger would make them feel ashamed when they
know that all their families are living under the same conditions of
insecurity.
MCA in Nuba Mountains
