Council Bluffs, Iowa, April 18, 2015 (SSNA) — South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (SSRRA) has kicked off its official diaspora civil society meeting in the United States after the arrival of delegation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO).
An official delegation of the SPLM-IO led by H.E. Gabriel Changson Chang arrived in the United States on Thursday, paving the way for the widely anticipated conference organized by SSRRA-USA Office.
The convention under the theme: “Creating Humanitarian Awareness and Peace Building in South Sudan,” which has been designed specifically to raise awareness about the worsening humanitarian situation in South Sudan has drawn at least two thousand South Sudanese, making it one of SSRRA’s successful meetings in Diaspora.
In the summit, the civil dialogue between the SPLPM-IO’s delegates and South Sudanese has been dominated by humanitarian crisis in the violence-wracked South Sudan.
The attendees discussed ways for people to raise awareness about the situation and how one can participate in humanitarian efforts.
The speakers of the gathering also called on all South Sudanese to reject division and work together to help find a peaceful solution to the ongoing civil war.
William Pay Tuoy, the Executive Director of the SSRRA-US Office said he has never thought in his life that South Sudanese would turn their guns on themselves, adding that he is very disappointed to see his country falling apart.
“It has never crossed my mind that South Sudan would be in this unfortunate situation it now finds itself in,” Tuoy told the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) at the conference site.
“So many people have already been killed in this war; it is sad…but any South Sudanese can do something to make a difference in the lives of those who have been affected by this senseless war,” he added.
Other notable attendees at the meeting are Hon. Hussein Mar Nyuot – Chairman for the SPLM-IO National Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and SSRRA, Hon. Gatwech Peter Kulang – National Executive Director for SSRRA General Headquarters in Pagak, South Sudan, Hon. Reath Muoch Tang – the SPLM-IO Representative to the United States, among others.
The SSNA noticed that most speakers at the convention have called on the United Nations to move its head quarters out of Juba, arguing that South Sudan’s government has killed lots of people who are relatives to displaced persons who are now living in United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) camps.
The SSRRA leaders urge people to donate and support relief efforts in South Sudan, especially in Greater Upper Nile region. More information about donation, how to get involve, and contact information can be found at SSRRA’s website, http://www.ssrra.org/
The conference is being held in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States.