Pia Ajuwa, 62, cannot recall when she fled Southern Sudan for Uganda. A mother of six, she returned in April to find that things had changed so much, she could not tell which house was hers in Nyakuro village. Ajuwa spoke to IRIN on 30 June:
"I left when I was young; I can’t remember the year and my age at that time, all I remember is that there was a lot of fighting between the [northerners] and SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army].
"We were living in Nyakuro. Our village was badly bombed. Many people died and my parents decided to flee to Pajeri village in Nimule [Southern Sudan]. I remember how we walked for many days, with little food and water.
"Some children died of hunger while others who couldn't walk any more were left behind. We found so many people in Nimule who had fled from Juba.
"We camped in Pajeri for some years and in 1996 we left. Nimule was attacked several times and we decided to move further into Adjumani [District] in Uganda.
"We were later taken to a Sudanese refugee camp. The place was peaceful but life was hard. I stayed in the camp with my children but sometimes tong-tong [Lord's Resistance Army rebels] would raid the camp and abduct children.
"In 2005 we heard that the SPLA and the Khartoum government had signed the peace agreement; everyone was happy and anxious to go home. However, this was not possible until April this year when we were brought back by the UN Refugee Agency [UNHCR].
"I found Nyakuro a new place, completely different from the one I left. I can’t see the houses we left. We are starting everything afresh but it has been very difficult. Water is a problem here; we have to travel long distances to the [River] Nile to get water.
"People are struggling to build their homes but life has remained difficult. My two sons are working in Juba; I don’t know what their work is but they help the family. My husband died when he came back to Juba during the war.
"There are no schools or hospitals. When you are sick you have to go to Juba. The children are not able to get an education here. As for food, we buy most of it from Uganda. The prices are high in Juba because the products are from Uganda.
"People here grow little food because there is not enough rain.
"I am happy that I am finally home. Even if life is harder here, home is good. It is a place you feel free and your mind is at peace.”
ca/js/mw
"I left when I was young; I can’t remember the year and my age at that time, all I remember is that there was a lot of fighting between the [northerners] and SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army].
"We were living in Nyakuro. Our village was badly bombed. Many people died and my parents decided to flee to Pajeri village in Nimule [Southern Sudan]. I remember how we walked for many days, with little food and water.
"Some children died of hunger while others who couldn't walk any more were left behind. We found so many people in Nimule who had fled from Juba.
"We camped in Pajeri for some years and in 1996 we left. Nimule was attacked several times and we decided to move further into Adjumani [District] in Uganda.
"We were later taken to a Sudanese refugee camp. The place was peaceful but life was hard. I stayed in the camp with my children but sometimes tong-tong [Lord's Resistance Army rebels] would raid the camp and abduct children.
"In 2005 we heard that the SPLA and the Khartoum government had signed the peace agreement; everyone was happy and anxious to go home. However, this was not possible until April this year when we were brought back by the UN Refugee Agency [UNHCR].
"I found Nyakuro a new place, completely different from the one I left. I can’t see the houses we left. We are starting everything afresh but it has been very difficult. Water is a problem here; we have to travel long distances to the [River] Nile to get water.
"People are struggling to build their homes but life has remained difficult. My two sons are working in Juba; I don’t know what their work is but they help the family. My husband died when he came back to Juba during the war.
"There are no schools or hospitals. When you are sick you have to go to Juba. The children are not able to get an education here. As for food, we buy most of it from Uganda. The prices are high in Juba because the products are from Uganda.
"People here grow little food because there is not enough rain.
"I am happy that I am finally home. Even if life is harder here, home is good. It is a place you feel free and your mind is at peace.”
ca/js/mw
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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