History of Apuk Padoc
The population of Apuk Padoc is estimated to be between 50,000 and 70,000 people. The five major communities of Apuk Padoc are located in Warrap State, Southern Sudan. The Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed by SPLA rebels and Khartoum government has eventually paved the way for peace in the area. However, a twenty-two year old civil strife left a distressing effect on basic living conditions of the communities. For example, in all of the Apuk Padoc Communities there are less than 20 deep wells (boreholes), many of which are not operating due to lack of qualified maintenance personnel and spare parts. Those scattered boreholes that are operating serve thousands of people every day who are allowed to draw water in shifts for themselves and their animals depending upon how far away from the community well they are located. Some residents (mostly women and girls) walk every day up to four hours or more in some cases bringing their animals and drawing water. Because of the shortage of water in these wells (which often run dry causing the women to have to wait while they regenerate) women are allowed to take a maximum of 25 liters (one jerry can or bucket) back to their homes. The congestion and arguments around these wells about who is able to draw the water first causes even more stress to an already critical state in the community. Rather than bother with this congestion and lack of water, in some communities, where ground water is available near the surface, construct or dig water holes and people use the water generated in these sink holes for drinking, washing and watering their animals. These convenient resources, however, are breeding grounds for the dreaded Guinea Worm and malaria- carrying mosquitoes, and it can be said that all people who use these resources are subject to the diseases that are born in these waters.
Cattle raising has traditionally been a major part of the Apuk Padoc Communities' economic basis and social imperatives (cattle are most often used as dowries in marriage rights), and most families have cattle that they graze in the region. The lack of water, especially during the dry season, makes it so that their cattle suffer greatly and many are lost because of this. To mitigate this problem some farmers, at great risk, have taken their animals many kilometers away to the rivers where grazing land is more plentiful and water is available for their animals. However, because other tribes control these resources, Apuk Padoc herders are often driven off, shot at or killed and their animals are confiscated.
The population of Apuk Padoc is estimated to be between 50,000 and 70,000 people. The five major communities of Apuk Padoc are located in Warrap State, Southern Sudan. The Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed by SPLA rebels and Khartoum government has eventually paved the way for peace in the area. However, a twenty-two year old civil strife left a distressing effect on basic living conditions of the communities. For example, in all of the Apuk Padoc Communities there are less than 20 deep wells (boreholes), many of which are not operating due to lack of qualified maintenance personnel and spare parts. Those scattered boreholes that are operating serve thousands of people every day who are allowed to draw water in shifts for themselves and their animals depending upon how far away from the community well they are located. Some residents (mostly women and girls) walk every day up to four hours or more in some cases bringing their animals and drawing water. Because of the shortage of water in these wells (which often run dry causing the women to have to wait while they regenerate) women are allowed to take a maximum of 25 liters (one jerry can or bucket) back to their homes. The congestion and arguments around these wells about who is able to draw the water first causes even more stress to an already critical state in the community. Rather than bother with this congestion and lack of water, in some communities, where ground water is available near the surface, construct or dig water holes and people use the water generated in these sink holes for drinking, washing and watering their animals. These convenient resources, however, are breeding grounds for the dreaded Guinea Worm and malaria- carrying mosquitoes, and it can be said that all people who use these resources are subject to the diseases that are born in these waters.
Cattle raising has traditionally been a major part of the Apuk Padoc Communities' economic basis and social imperatives (cattle are most often used as dowries in marriage rights), and most families have cattle that they graze in the region. The lack of water, especially during the dry season, makes it so that their cattle suffer greatly and many are lost because of this. To mitigate this problem some farmers, at great risk, have taken their animals many kilometers away to the rivers where grazing land is more plentiful and water is available for their animals. However, because other tribes control these resources, Apuk Padoc herders are often driven off, shot at or killed and their animals are confiscated.
