By Hou Akot Hou
More than 150 returnees at Apada, in Aweil Center County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State received cash disbursements on Monday to help them overcome their hardships.
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), an international organization, distributed the money to spontaneous and organized returnees who fled the raging Sudan war and are now facing economic challenges upon returning home.
Each returnee was given $100.
Adut Deng, one of the recipients, praised the NRC humanitarian agency for their assistance during these difficult times.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve received $100,” Deng said. “I worried about how my family would manage in the coming days. But God has a way of working things out. I feel a little relief now. I bought food and set some aside for farming,” she said.
Deng plans to use some of the cash for farming to ensure a more stable income next year, “depending on the expected rainfall.”
Aluat Atak, another beneficiary, emphasized the importance of humanitarian aid. Previously, Ms. Atak received goats from the NRC, but unfortunately, some of them died.
The Norwegian aid organization advised her to use some of the cash to buy new goats and the rest for food, considering the dire economic situation.
Addressing the returnees, payam inspector in Aweil Center County, Mr. Dut Kenyang urged the returnees to use the money wisely, particularly for agricultural activities, to avoid further hardship next year.
Kenyang also appealed to husbands to avoid exerting patriarchal control by taking money from their wives.
He encouraged them to allow their spouses to use the funds for household needs.