Landmines are now one of the major hazards that exist today in the Nuba Mountains. Since the singing of Burgenstock Cease-Fire Agreement for the Nuba Mountains two years ago many people in the Nuba Mountains have died of landmines and many more have suffered from the injuries caused by the landmines planted on the roads or footpaths by both Government and the SPLA forces. During the past year JMC and Landmine Units set up by both sides have made efforts to clear these mines but it appears that the problem is big and it needs more concerted efforts from the experts to remove all these mines. The people of the Nuba Mountains during the period of nearly two years now have enjoyed freedom of movement across the region with no fear of aerial bombardments or military attacks and the security had improved significantly. Their only fear now is from the planted land mines.

On October 2003 at midday near the village of Kodi, a land mine blew-up a de-mining vehicle which was travelling from Um-Sirdiba to Kauda and as a result three men and five women were killed. Two other civilians were seriously injured and the vehicle  was destroyed completely. All the figures were pointed to the government army of planting these mines. Following this incident the SPLA accused the Sudanese Government army of planting  this landmine and the Government respond to this allegation was that it withdrew its members from the international commission overseeing a cease-fire agreement.

The Joint Military Commission (JMC) Commander J.E. Wilhelmsen approved the withdrawal. This incident forced Monitoring Units to reduce their presence in Kauda and this is the second time that the JMC surrendered an area to the SPLA. An SPLA statement blamed the government for planting the landmine. The JMC has established an investigation team.

Since the signing of Burgenstock Cease-Fire Agreement for Nuba Mountains two years ago, the humanitarian situation in the region has not improved significantly compare to the security situation which has contributed to the free movement of the civilians in the whole region with no fear and only few case of troubles have been reported in the western regions few months ago and the JMC was able to defuse the situation.     

The humanitarian situation has not had a serious impact on the life of the suffering Nuba people, particularly the returnees who received no attention or care by international humanitarian agencies that are currently present in the region including UNDP. Many of these humanitarian agencies were desperate for humanitarian access to the Nuba Mountains. However, nothing seriously has been done so far in the ground as far as humanitarian assistance or development are concerned. In addition, nothing is seen in terms of rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of this war affected region in the Sudan. The poverty, hunger and ramping diseases remain acute problem.     In recent months and since the appointments of Dr. Mukesh Kapila, UN Resident amd Steve Utterwulghe as a new NMPACT Programme Coordinator in Nuba Mountains things appear to be moving not too bad in terms of feasibility studies but  perhaps all these will have to wait for peace being reached. Information of the day-to-day, humanitarian activities are now becoming readily available to many people inside and outside Sudan.

However, it is still a long way before the Nuba could see sustainable development in their region. Currently, the UN activities and other international Humanitarian Agencies in the region are being reported on weekly basis and sent out by Steve in the Nuba Mountains. Nuba Vision is taken this opportunity to reproduce these weekly reports (see page 4) for the benefit of the readers who always seek update information on situation and development in the Nuba Mountains.

While the Sudanese peace process is gaining momentum in Naivasha and the final peace agreement just on the corner sound progrmmes for rehabilitation and devlopement for the Nuba Mountains should be by now put in place by the local and international humanitarian agencies which are present in the region to meet the influx of the returnees into the war affected areas. It must be clearly understood that the major needs for the people in the Nuba Mountains are primarily rehabilitaion and rebuilding of the destroyed infrastructure of healthcare, education, water, sanitation and road as well as people’s dewellings which resuled from the long conflict in the region.