A grandmother's torment

Story: Bona Bak
Photos: Pablo Vizcaino

"The attackers came from Unity state through the swamps. Some were dressed in civilian clothes; others wore camouflage clothing. They had AK47 rifles and machine guns."

Achol Akot Bak was describing the ordeal that forced her to flee her home in Turalei, Warrap state. The 50 year old widow comes from a tribe of cattle herders.

"As they raided our cattle, I fled with my grandchildren to this boma," she said, speaking in the local dialect. A boma is the lowest administrative entity in South Sudan.

"My eldest son and three grandchildren disappeared during the raid." She was quiet for a moment. "We don't know if they are alive."


The date was 4 April 2012. I was part of a UNHCR team assessing the humanitarian impact of the cattle raid in Turalei together with local authorities, UNICEF and UNOCHA. We had learned about the displaced persons through the local authorities and community-based Protection Networks.

According to the community, 20 to 30 raiders had attacked a cattle camp, killed two people and injured four. The attackers made off with 3,000 heads of cattle. South Sudan Police and Community Police gave the chase and recovered the livestock.


We had driven for three hours from Kwajok, capital of Warrap state, to Magak boma where Achol and others had found refuge, covering nearly 170 kilometres over rocky terrain in scorching heat.


We found Achol and other displaced persons living in makeshift structures made from palm leaves. There were women and children feeding on tamarind and other wild fruits. Some of them had received small amounts of food from the local population.

Adult males were out grazing the cattle and fishing. They would return at night. In the dry season, herders routinely travel long distances in search of tok (pastureland).


Together with the local authorities and UN colleagues, we assessed the humanitarian needs of the affected population.

They did not want to remain in these conditions. Already several days had gone by. Achol said to me, "We are waiting for the police to confirm that we can go back home to our tukuls (huts). We want security in our village so that we can return home.

Inter-agency Clusters (coordination forums) dealing with food, non-food items, water and health would race against time to deliver humanitarian aid to affected communities before the start of the rains in May. During the five-month rainy season, access to remote areas like Turalei will be cut off as roads become impassable.

As the agency that leads the Protection Cluster, UNHCR would embarked on efforts to locate Achol's missing son and grandchildren. Family tracing and reunification involves local authorities (including security forces) as well as specialized UN and NGO protection actors. We hoped Achol's kin had not perished in the raid. 

As we departed the makeshift settlement in Magak boma, Achol's grandson ran after me.

"I am ready to go back to my village," he said. "There, I can fish and provide food for the family. I just need to know that we will be safe."