AFRICANEWS

Sudan

Nuba Mountains: on the edge of change

Human rights

The Nuba people are a community full of energy and enthusiasm. They work each day hoping for a brighter and more promising future.

Just before the dawn tide of light flooded the landscape of the Nuba Mountains, I could hear the singing of sweet lyrics.

Rhythms as ancient as these foothills pace those women who were already grinding sorghum flour for that day's meal. How long will this music last? The Nuba Mountains are on the edge of change, fruit of their own successes.

In his Nairobi office, Saleh Kaki, a Nuba, said: " We are proud of what we have achieved". He is the co-ordinator of the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Association (SRRA) activities in in the Nuba Mountains. Alone for 13 years the Nuba people ferociously defended every rock and cave of their land from confiscation by the government of Sudan. Securely entrenched in the highlands, they have been able to grow enough crops to survive. Every attempt to dislodge the Nuba has failed. The apparent stalemate in this "war of low-intensity" has brought new difficulties.

Defending their homeland was a natural and straightforward reaction. Dealing with humanitarian assistance, while maintaining their military defences, creates a more complicated situation. "We want to avoid the mistakes of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS)," said Salih.

"We do not want food," said Sodi Ibrahim, the Field Co-ordinator of the Nuba Relief Rehabilitation and Development Organisation (NRRDO). "We are already providing for our own food needs. We want help to train our people so that we can improve ourselves," said Sodi in an interview in Kujur, Sudan. Sodi speaks with the knowledge of the counterproductive projects managed by OLS in southern Sudan. For example, United States Aid for International Development (USAID) provides through the efforts of the World Food Programme 80 percent of the caloric needs of the people. At the same time, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) attempts to build self-reliance through the program "seeds and tools."

"Our terrible experience is now behind us," said Salih, "Now people around the world have heard about our plight. From the years when we fought alone has emerged a sense of self-confidence in all the people." According to Salih, his people have the confidence necessary to build a community based civil infrastructure, which would support health, sanitation, and education projects. He believes that pressure from the international community has forced the government of Sudan to allow "in principle" humanitarian aid for the Nuba Mountain region of the Kordofan, a province in the northern part of Sudan.

Currently only two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are permanently located in the Nuba Mountains and providing humanitarian services. When the international agreements are finalised, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will oversee humanitarian assistance in the region, instead of OLS.

I was able to visit these two NGOs. One mentioned above is a local NGO, the NRRDO and the other is an international NGO, the German Emergency Doctors (GED). They are located miles apart, and, after flying into the region, can be reached only on foot: not a trip for the faint-hearted or those with tenderfeet.

The GED provides basic health care and operates an inoculation programme for Heiban County. In the three years that they have been present they have seen a decrease in infant diseases. They administer medicines in consultation with other NGOs working in Sudan.

The day I left the region, I witnessed an example of the new difficulties facing the Nuba because of the expanding numbers of NGOs reaching their land. Some NGOs do as much harm as good. For example, Henrik Sauer, a representative of GED, claimed that a doctor of Safe Harbor issued medicine irresponsibly.

According to Sauer, a woman seven months pregnant and complaining of constipation, was given cotrimoxacal, a medicine for kidney infections, which is counter indicated for pregnant women. Safe Harbor denied the claim. "But where else could this woman get this medicine coming from America," asked Sauer with evident sarcasm in his voice.

Up until recently there was no need for a well-articulated protocol regarding the administration of medicine because there were no NGOs in the Nuba Mountains. People had to relay on traditional remedies.

Speaking in his office, Salih said the SRRA is drafting a protocol entitled the "Nuba Local Framework." This protocol he said, "does not regard health care only, but all sectors - education, food security, health care and other activities." He is hoping that these guidelines will help foster harmony among NGOs working in the same sector.

Besides health care, the Nuba very much want help in the area of education. Near Kauda I visited a refresher course for primary teachers. Stephen Amin and Elia Samuel, Sudanese members of Koinonia, a Nairobi based Catholic association, were conducting the two-months training course in order to improve their skills in English and arithmetic. An Italian NGO, Amani and an Austrian NGO, DKA are paying the logistic expenses.

Originally planned for 35 participants, 57 men and eight women are participating in the course, evidence of the people's desire to improve themselves. The number of participants could have been much higher because many had to be turned away. All the participants admitted to the course will return to their village following the course to share what they have learned with their compatriots.

"This is the kind of course that we need," said Sodi, "because English is the lingua franca of the NGOs who want to help us."

The English/Arithmetic refresher course is an example of the type of educational course that will multiply if the UN does come to the Nuba Mountains, but will the UN ever arrive? "Whether they come today or in five years makes no difference. Our people have waited 13 years, and have survived. They will still be here when the UN does eventually arrive," said Salih.

Completely and totally rejected by the government of Sudan, the Nuba have turned to the West for help. In general, this help will arrive with the best of intentions; nevertheless, it will impact Nuba society. How it impacts the Nuba depends on the people and their leaders.

If in the future, the occasional observer still hears the ancient rhythms that pace those women who are grinding sorghum flower for that day's meal, then, perhaps, we can conclude that the transitions was benign, a transition that brought together the best from the old and the new.

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