By Richard Sultan
A group of eight journalists from both local and international media houses left Juba on Sunday for Unity State’s capital, Bentiu to deliver donations from the Union of Journalists (UJOSS) in partnership with Community Empowerment for progress Organization (CEPO) as a show of solidarity with the flood affected families of the state.
In a joint press statement from UJOSS and CEPO, the journalists will report on the impact of floods on food security, determine the effects of floods on elderly, women and children once the distribution of the donation is over.
“They will also assess the impact of floods on people with disabilities, witness how floods have contributed to violence, find out how heavy flooding has impacted on livestock and assess response measures of the authorities to tackle floods”, reads part of the statement.
Meanwhile speaking to the press before the departure of the eight journalists from Juba International Airport (JIA), the President of UJOSS Oyet Patrick stressed the need to always stand up for our fellow countrymen in trying times like this, regardless of where they are.
“The essential materials like clothes and sanitary pads will not necessarily be enough but it sends a message of hope to the suffering people of Unity State that their brothers and sisters in other parts of the country feel for them”, Oyet said.
He also added that hopefully, after Unity State, UJOSS will also embark on a similar initiative for the people displaced due to violence in Tombura County in Western Equatoria State.
Speaking to the Juba Echo on phone a few hours after the departure of the journalists, the State Information Minister for Unity State Gabriel Hon Makuei acknowledged the safe arrival of the journalists.
“We have received the team and the donations all in one piece and tomorrow (Monday), we will embark on distribution and guiding the journalists in their work”, Hon said.
This initiative is the first of its kind for the flood affected people in the country and the journalists will spend four days in the state in order to bring out a true picture of events there.
The donations included clothes, shoes, sanitary pads and exercise books donated mostly by UJOSS members and Chagai Foundation, a local NGO among others.
