Authorities in Jonglei State on Friday announced the apportionment of large swaths of land in Bor town for the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Isaac Mamer Ruk, the state minister of lands and housing, told Radio Tamazuj that the land will accommodate IDPs within the state and that his ministry will start allotting plots to individuals on Monday.
“Last month, the Anyidi community allocated land to the state government where the IDPs are going to be resettled. A total of 2,500 people are from the former Bor PoC [Protection of Civilians sites] where they sheltered since 2013,” Mamer said. “As a government, we are not only targeting those from former PoC but we will also allot lands to IDPs displaced by floods in places like Mangalla, Bor, Minkaman and other places.”
The lands minister said they are engaging aid agencies to provide social amenities as the allotment process starts Monday.
“We have already reserved public spaces for schools, health centres, playgrounds, and even a police station. We also asked our partners to drill 10 boreholes and by Monday we may start allotment if there is a response from our partners,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wany Bum, the spokesperson of the state legislative assembly, said: “As a government, we passed a resolution for the resettlement of IDPs and it had since been before the governor. Though there were delays, we are happy that it has been approved.”
“Though the place is far from the town centre, it will mean an expansion of the town because there will be services there and we should not confine ourselves around Marol Market,” he added.
For his part, Makuac Mun, a representative of the IDPs community said the decision to have them resettled is long overdue.
“For the last two years, we have been demanding this. We are happy that it has finally been approved. However, we are demanding that government provide services like protection, schools, hospitals, and even reparation for our losses during the 2013 war,” he said.