Progressive Report on 3 Islands- 2016

Child Protection Needs Assessment Report on Kuei, ziam ziam, and Jonglei 1 Islands, Jonglei State

Date: 25th-27th February, 2016

Note:

Population estimate: Kuei Island 1,500ppl Population estimate: Ziam ziam Island 1,300ppl Population estimate: Jonglei (1) Island 3,000ppl (16 locations of the same settings) Key focal person-Sub chief (Phillip Buot-0912938062)-ziam ziam island Key focal person-community leader (Michael Ayuen Duardit-0913420620)-Jonglei 1 Key focal person-community elder (Paul Amol-0913328501)-Kuei

1-Introduction

This has been the first Child protection needs assessment carried out on the month of February 25th -27th 2016 by CINA organization on Kuei, ziam ziam and Jonglei 1 Islands respectively of payam since the crisis broke out on 15th December 2013; Children welfare has not been met since the war broke out among the child protection circles CPC (parents, community, NGOs, international Agencies & government)and actors have not accessed these areas attributing to lack of resources to handle children issues and difficulty in accessibility since the crisis burst into fear of insecurity. This child protection needs assessment will enable CINA and Partners address issues of children in areas of concern.

2. Background information on the crisis

The 15 December 2013 Conflicts affected many people in Jonglei state specially the population in the three counties of Bor ,Duk and Twice East where, more than 90% fled to Bor County’s Islands known as Toch and Mingkaman newly created Eastern Lakes state as IDPs. According to the information obtained from the chiefs, local elders and other key informants of the community. Population of Jalle (Kuei Island) and other three counties of Jonglei state had been tremendously devastated by both warring factions and cattle raiders. Consequently, the internally displaced population living on the islands along the White Nile river (covering areas of and Jalle payams of Bor County and Maar and Ajuong payams of Twice East county) found themselves there when suspected Murle raiders attacked their villages in 2013. The crisis affected mostly women and children. In the two counties (four payams), according to local residents, over 31,180 people were displaced including about 20,214 children while over 5,000 herds of cattle were driven away. Other means of livelihood such as harvested crops, farmlands, chicken, sheep and goats, houses, boreholes, schools and health facilities were either destroyed or looted.

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When the current crisis hit Bor on 18 December 2013, most IDPs were either coming to Bor, Juba or setting up temporary shelters on the islands. As a result, they were caught in the midst of several issues and were subsequently subjected to secondary set of events.

According to the local community duty bearers revealed that thousands of people travelled to the islands by makeshift rafts passion from plastic sheets and wooden sticks, though some were able to use traditional wooden dugout canoes 3. Many of whom travelled to Juba, Minkaman aka Guolyar in Lakes state and some took refuge in Kenya and Uganda. Reflecting on the history of civil war of 1991, these internal conflicts had already resulted in communities’ resilience being tested. Majority of those who crossed Sudan borders are said to be those who became refugees in these countries during the civil war of 1991 when Dr. Riek Machar first fell apart with SPLM/A. The IDPs currently living on the islands are reportedly familiar with life on the islands as majority of them are fishermen.

3. Assessment scope, team composition and methodology

From 25th-February 2016, a 3 joint team of CINA staff with a recommendation from RRC Jonglei state embarked on a field visit to Twice East and Bor counties islands along the White Nile River. Logistically, the mission was organized by CINA and facilitated with funds from UNICEF.

The mission team comprised of three participants mainly CINA staff. However, it is important to note here that the author of this report provided almost all the technical direction for the child protection needs assessment albeit community volunteers provided some assistance as required. Also the volunteers from the affected community were given orientation and assigned to support the assessment.

Three CINA’s staffs and two Community Child Protection Volunteers covered this activity during the assessment period of three days. Composition of Assessment team members S/No. Name Title Contacts 1. Okidi Richard Okello Child protection manager [email protected] 0955003136 2. Ayuen Bol Deng Social caseworker 0955670667 3. Mabior John -YAP officer 0924358712,0955183208

Information collected from administrators and 29 respondents including chiefs, youth leaders ,children and women headed households as key informants. Individual interviews and assessor’s observation were also used as major assessment techniques to collect qualitative data. Separately, three focused group discussions were held with groups of young women and adolescent girls .Notably, population of IDPs in Bor is much higher than that in Twice East islands. Names of the volunteers who have been running the CFS in Kuei Island since its establishment in Dec.2015 S/no Name Sex Age Title 1 John Mator Amol Male 23 Team leader 2 Awel Panruar Agoot Female 19 Member

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A total population of about 1000 (700 female& 300male) individuals and 3000 (2000 boys &1000 girls) are children registered in the child friendly space CFS. Their ages range from 5-17 years 4. Status of Access and Safety

Access to this island is through river transport by boats, barges and local canoes .It takes 15 hours to drive by boats and 2 days by local canoes from Bor town to Jonglei 1, 13 hours to Kuei Island and 14 hours to ziam ziam islands respectively given te fact that this time of the year, water level has reduced making movement from inland areas to the islands rather accessible as people walk some 20kms before they can use their boats or canoes.

The assessment team hired a small boat of 15cc engine horsepower with a capacity to carry 6 passengers but with no shade for preventing heat or rain drops.

15cc horsepower Engine

Entrance into the islands from the main river channels presents a huge challenge. Outlets are narrow or swampy and sometimes blocked by papyrus. At one instance, the team was cut off for about three hours after an island waterway was blocked by massive grass hindering use of the boat engine.

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Team wading through the thick canopies inwardly to Jonglei 1 island

A sagacity of safety and security prevails along the Nile from Bor to Twice East. Local residents are armed and on alert to protect themselves from any aggression by either Murle or Nuer dissidents as well as against wild animals. Majority of people seen carrying guns are young people. They reported that cattle raiders from Murle and Lou Nuer could reach some islands around especially when water level reduces.

Zain mobile communication network is active especially in the evenings in some islands. Local people use solar panels energy to charge mobile phones. Traditional clan leadership patenting from payams and bomas is in control. There is an evident absence of government agencies except in Ziam Ziam where a police post exists and a school on Kuei run by Dr Garang University.

Surprisingly, there is a radio communication spot (Cordan type) between ziam ziam and Jonglei 1 where the team saw an active temporary antenna signal and a local member in the area responded proudly as being for communication purposes.

Local chief & youth leaders in Jonglei 1island

5. Key findings

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A total population of about 16862 individuals including 3491 children live on the islands and approximately 230 were reached by the assessment team. IDPs reside in quarters of little pots of islands and are sparsely settled. Any distance between one island and another is covered by canoes or boats. Given the pattern of settlements, false premise has it that few people live on the islands. The IDP population is highly mobile. An estimated average of 360 persons travel on daily basis between islands, Minkaman, Bor and their original payams/bomas in search of economic opportunities, to settle marriages and visit relatives. a) Basic social services

There is a total absence of social services such as health, hygiene and sanitation, clean drinking water, education, shelter, general protection (exploitation, child headed house hold or child labor, sexual harassments, corporal punishment and any other harmful traditional practices) in all sites visited. No single humanitarian organization has since provided any of the mentioned services to these populations. For instance, lack of sanitation facilities or the space to erect one compounded by widespread open defecation in water symptomizes waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea. Children bear significant portion of burden due to lack of these services.

Team in ziam ziam island docking site with community duty bearers

But recently only D.R John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology (D.r. J.MUST) has taken an initiative by opening a primary school to isolated children on the island where classes range from primary one to six.

At the background is kuei island landing site

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Malaria is another compound disease reported as most IDPs due to lack mosquito nets. Education facilities are absent in ziam ziam and Jonglei islands. Throughout the 3 islands visited, there is no trained teacher or school facility available except in kuei island. However, communities constructed semi- permanent structures that they use as churches. Every island has a church structure. These are important points that could be explored for use as temporary learning spaces. Over 8000 children living on islands visited are school-age going children that require some intervention. Majority of IDPs children had been schooling prior to the conflict whereas children who have been living in the islands never attended any school. There is need to conduct in-depth education needs assessment on the islands.

Despite the fact that no food assistance from any humanitarian actors reached these populations, people on the islands are not economically so bad only that salt is never a priority as most sauces are salt less. Fish seems to be abundant although some isolated islands receive fewer amounts of fish from their waters. Five cases of moderate malnutrition were observed throughout the sites suggesting that children are healthy. b) Separation

A total of 18 (10 girls and 8 boys) orphanage children ranges from 5 -14 years were identified and registered from their families especially in Kuei island during the outbreak of conflict in December 2015 These separated children are temporarily fostered with relatives. Two adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable as they risk child marriage, sexual and gender-based violence and ‘exploitation’ by caregivers.

In Jonglei 1 island, there are more girls than boys who have been separated between the ages of 1- 10.8girls and 4 boys.Still in Jonglei 1 island, there are four (4) parents who do not know where their children are located namely Deng amol, Akon Gak, Makuei Pereech deng and Anyieth achuit.

Also, in ziam ziam island there were 4 children 3boys and 1 girl who were separated from their parents and were in dire need of support.

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CINA staff with a separated child in ziam ziam island c) Violence against children

According to the interview conducted, the reasons why early marriage is common is due to poverty which influence the parent of the girl to allow their daughters getting married. Idleness and lack of proper school functioning to engage young girls in studies makes them very vulnerable to early marriage at unexpected age.Child marriage is a key concern affecting adolescent girls living on the islands. From participant observation, nearly all girls are married at the age of 15 or much earlier. A case in point was where we found 13 young mothers at an island all age between 13-15 years old. A focused group discussion with adolescent girls indicated that parents from these communities send their daughters to live in the islands so as to get married to men believed to be wealthier in terms of cows. It is not clear as to how these men accumulate wealth in the midst of conflict and displacements.

“There was a case of rape or sexual violence reported or experienced by a girl in Kuei Island during this conflict, it was disclosed to CINA volunteers by the community and concealed by the local chiefs. This rape case was perpetuated by young man. This incidence was reported to have happen in amidst August 2015 but it was handled locally by two clans.” However, SPLA was reportedly alleged to have abused unknown number of girls and women during a civilian disarmament exercise carried out in these areas around July 2013. Lack of civil society organizations to conduct awareness makes it difficult for communities to report to local authorities incidences of sexual abuse and exploitation.

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There is no report of incidences of recruitment or use of children by armed forces or groups. All interviews conducted point to the fact that military activities are from away from the islands. Similarly, communities confirmed that none of their children participated in recent mobilization in Twice East, Bor and Duk counties for young people to join the SPLA. From June-July 2014, SPLA together with communities of greater Bor reportedly mobilized young people who got trained in Bor and joined SPLA ranks. However, children below 18 years were not part of the recruitment drive.

Harmful traditional practices such as tooth removal are common to conform to the culture.

Another key child protection issue is exposure of young children to dangers of wild animals living in waters due to fishing activity. Everyone in the household rides a canoe but boys are particularly at risks as they are exposed to crocodiles, hippopotamus due to fishing, mud and grass collection as per their roles. d) Psychological distress

There is no single recreational activity for children on the ziam ziam and Jonglei islands except in kuei. Distress, idleness, anger, and fighting are common behaviours demonstrated by most boys and girls. Some church activities such as singing and dancing bring children together especially in evenings and on Sundays. Lack of schooling is a major factor contributing to psychological distress affecting IDPs children.

Due to frequent attack in Jalle payam, people were killed and this forced they whole population to flee to the island for their safety, it has left people in anxiety and especially children. However, because of this psycho-social distress, CINA got a reason to intervene in order to provide the following services in the CFS so that these worries and frightening are alleviated from children.

 Open space free from any harm.  Singing of songs in English and dialect.  Traditional dance for both boys and girls.  Telling of stories and riddles.  Drawing.  Modeling.  Puzzles games.  Basic literature (writing and reading of letters numbers).  Dolls  Skipping rope

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Children of 1-5 years playing in the CFS children of 6-17 years playing in the CFS of Kuei Island

CINA staff orienting volunteers on the CFS activities CFS space is shown to CINA staff. Movement of People There is continuous mobility of IDPs and returnees in and out of Kuei due to hunger threat according to a few mothers interviewed on why they intended to move to Mingkaman and Bor town. ERW/MINES The team was not carrying GPS however ERWs were reported to be available on Kuei island and CINA was not able to mark them because these ERWs were covered by water. These ERWs were for 1980s during Sudan civil war, e.g. MI-Jet fighter Bomb (hazard form),

CINA staff meeting with the community elders and explained to them about ERWs, UXOs, EXOs, mines and dangers of it to young and old people, lives tocks, shelters among others.

6. Immediate Actions taken –

Focused group discussions held with caregivers to understand care system. Both caregivers and children specified dire need to support them with family tracing and reunification services.

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In each location, at least 2 community resource persons were identified and given orientation on community-based psychosocial support and community-based child protection systems.

7. Recommendations for immediate and medium term actions

I. CINA should Scale up activities of child protection, MRE within dry season, this will help to cover Entire Island. II. Comprehensive awareness on child rights, dangers of child marriage and efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence targeting elders, girls and women should be conducted as part of medium term response.

III. Immediate provision of social services such as clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, educational and health care to be established in these islands.

IV. Erecting of the CFS’ shelter on the piece of land provided by community in kuei island.

V. There is great need of health facility on these island -a sick person may spend two or more days to reach Bor hospital for quick recue, which is very dangerous to the population specially children, pregnant mothers and old people.

VI. Hygienic kits will be of great support to young ladies if provide by CINA and other protection partners or agencies.

VII. Population residing on these Islands need shelters support since the settled on the opened space which is not healthy for children and pregnant mothers

VIII. They also need for clothing for both children and adults possibly

IX. There is an urgent need for provision of water guard for a healthy drinking water

X. UNICEF should kindly speed up with the policies on the usage of boat to partners as this would accelerate faster movement to the island instead of partners hiring.

XI. There is need to institute child protection presence along the islands, and probably at Ziam Ziam island port to closely monitor child protection issues

XII. The state Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare is also called upon to play its role

XIII. Sites for establishing CFSs have been identified at every Island visited. Therefore, any process to set up these spaces for children to play and socialize using community-based approaches is paramount and should be expedited. Also, prepositioning of essential child protection supplies at Ziam Ziam Island must be considered. Tents for CFS are particularly essential as people move from one island to another given high possibility for flooding sometimes this month or in October.

XIV. Comprehensive awareness on child rights, dangers of child marriage and efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence targeting elders, girls and women living on all islands should be conducted at scale as part of medium term response.

XV. Immediate provision of social services such as clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, education and health care cannot be overemphasized. WASH partners are particularly urged to consider water purification at Ziam Ziam port where a10000ltire container has been installed. This can benefit both the mobile population as well as over 2000 people living around the area. There is need to carry out quick needs assessment for education, WASH, shelter and none-food items.

XVI. There is total lack of food except fish, therefore partners should come in especially world food programme so that the population can benefit in terms of dietary changes.

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XVII. Livelihood challenges are extremely acute due to inefficient fishing nets and hooks.

XVIII. There’s a security gap especially in jonglei 1 because there is no police or army in the islands.

Basic pre-journey tips:

o Stock enough mineral drinking water

o Stock enough food i.e. canned stuffs/biscuits/snacks

o Carry along some salt/soap

o Head gear/cap against heat/rain

o Mobile phone/ Satelite phone/power bank

o A torch/light

o Beddings i.e. mattress/tent/sheets

o A jacket for night colds

o First aid tool kit

o Secure a covered and faster boat

o Some items to the informants/children

o Set off early

Thank you for your time

Compiled by: Okidi Richard

Child Protection manager-CINA South Sudan

Tel:0955003136

Email: [email protected]

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