The effects of the war has been far reaching with the social and education structures virtually wiped out and thus the literacy level of the population has been stagnant since the beginning of the war. Reports indicate that 60-70% of the school going children in the South are illiterate and 80-95% of the local school teachers are untrained. In addition to this, alarming reports indicate that 80-90% of the teachers in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Nuba Mountains and Upper Nile regions are semi-illiterate. In many surveys it has been noted that 98% of the school going children are boys with a mere 2% of the children being girls.

On the other hand, the level of resilience is very low, with major parts of the Bahr el Ghazal, Nuba Mountains and Upper Nile are in virtual starvation due to poor food production as the communities are constantly on the move while in some areas there are cases of the crops being destroyed. Reports indicate that all of the 98 % young and energetic men are in the war front, leaving the community unattended and vulnerable, and thus destroying the socio-economic capabilities of the communities.

The International Community has since 2002 been encouraging the two warring parties to discuss the effects of the war and the peace plan for the whole Nation.

On 9th January 2005, the Sudan peace agreement was signed in Naivasha, Kenya.

Daniel Zetterlund Country Director, Northern Sudan daniel.zetterlundias.nu

Onesimu Yugusuk Country Director, Southern Sudan onesimu.yugusukias.nu