My Trip to Rural Area Around Wau

A distant uncle, Mr. Malual Agieu, sips traditional brew.

Seen in this photo is my cousin Achan Bol Ngor who is separating flour from sorghum which she will later pound using a mortar and pestle. This is the method used in the rural areas, as there are no grinding mills. This method is also used for maize/corn.

This is a welcoming sign to the centre for recent returnees who come in a variety of ways. Some come from northern Sudan with assistance from International Organization of Migrations. Others come from neighbouring countries which is facilitated by IOM. And then there are others who come individually. The centre helps the first two groups with resettlement. The centre is located 4 miles outside Wau.

Centre for returnees

Typical Dinka houses in the rural areas

Dinka house

Me having a taste of wild fruit I have not eaten for long time

The road shown above was constructed recently, courtesy of a multi-trust donor fund. It start from Yithliet to Kuacjok and from Kuacjok to Gorial. The road between Wau and Yithliet is dilapidated. Traveling through it is a nightmare, vehicles are only able to drive 20 km/h.

The road between Wau and Yithliet mentioned above

This "small town" is called Tharkueng. It serves as headquarters of Nahr Jur county. This illustrates Dr. John Garang's point of "starting from scratch in South Sudan."

Maria-Wau police station. This small divisional headquarters was turned into a garrison town during the war by Sudan Armed Forces. The structural damages on the building were done by SAF. It is in serious need of repair, but it is competing with other pertinent services.

Marial-Wau is known for the Mahogany trees which are seen behind me. They number of trees behind me was estimated to be 104 before the war. There were 52 trees on each of the two rows. Unfortunately, the number has decreased due to logging when the government troops were stationed here during the war.

Seen in this photo is the water tank that used to serve Marial Wau residents. It was destored by SAF. It was also alleged that the pump generator was stolen by an army officer. The local population wants to reclaim it from the culprit, but the process is painfully slow.

Dormitory of Marial-Wau Primary School. Although the iron sheet roof is still intact, it leaks due to bullet holes. Rumour has it that drunk Sudanese Army personnel were firing guns inside the building which resulted into the dorm not being used by the kids.

Forest: Savanah grass land with trees

The state of roads is deplorable between Wau and Yithlieth. Here only cars with four wheel drive can travel on this road.

Toyota Land cruisers we were traveling in. Here, we are waiting for the driver who has gone to check if the car can make it through the mud.

Here is the fish vendor who rode his motorcycle 6 miles from Wau to buy fish cheaply. The vendor buys the fish for 8 pounds/kilo but sells it in Wau for 15 pounds. A huge profit!

Here the rural fishermen sell their catch. The guy who is holding the fish in the middle is my step brother Bol Majok.

Heap of fish

A fisherman casting his net

Men cross River Jur with their bikes on their shoulders. Bicycles are major mean of transport in South Sudan. People carry as many as 6 bags of charcoal at carrier of one bike.

Nice view of rural environment.