Children walk through a camp for internally displaced persons at the
United Nations Mission to South Sudan (UNMISS) base in Juba, on January
9, 2014. PHOTO | PHIL MOORE
AFP
JUBA
South
Sudan's warring sides may have signed a ceasefire, but David Choul is
not ready to leave the UN peacekeepers' base, to which he had fled when
gunmen rampaged through his neighbourhood during the brutal conflict.
"I'm
not leaving until I know I'll be safe outside, and I don't know when
that will be," said Choul, who is one of 17,000 people who have squeezed
into the former sports ground for safety.
Like him,
other South Sudanese traumatised by the killings and other atrocities
since fighting broke out on December 15 are waiting to see if the peace
would indeed hold as pledged by political leaders.
"This
morning... people have been busy queuing for the latrines, or to get
clean water, or waiting for a cup of tea... no one I know is preparing
to leave yet, they want to wait to see how things turn out," Choul said.
As
news broke of Thursday's ceasefire deal, "everyone crowded around those
with a radio, and while there was relief at the news, but it was not
celebration," the 23-year-old student recounted. (READ: South Sudan government, rebels sign ceasefire)
"It
is a good step, but how can you celebrate when you we are still too
frightened to leave the camp?" he said, speaking by crackling telephone
from inside the UN base. "We are still so worried."
The
fighting that has seized the country for over a month has seen waves of
brutal revenge attacks, as fighters and ethnic militia took the
opportunity to loot and settle old scores.
Both the United Nations and rights workers have reported horrific atrocities committed by both sides.
The
agreement, signed late Thursday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa by
representatives of President Salva Kiir and rebel delegates loyal to
ousted vice president Riek Machar, was greeted by cheers from regional
peace brokers and diplomats.
In the camps where South Sudanese are still hiding, the reaction was more muted.
Over
67,000 people are sheltering inside UN bases across South Sudan,
fearing they will be killed if they leave, while more than half a
million people have been forced from their homes.
Aid workers and analysts believe up to 10,000 people have died.
NO QUICK RESOLUTION
On
the dusty streets of Juba - where daily life in many districts appears
largely to be returning to normal - residents were also cautiously
optimistic about the agreement.
"This (the ceasefire)
is what we want and what we have been praying for," said Mary Konga, a
43-year old lady selling vegetables in Juba's Munuki district. "We still
pray that total peace comes to our country, we are tired of suffering."
Others were more sceptical, saying they would wait to see if it was implemented.
Others were more sceptical, saying they would wait to see if it was implemented.
"We want peace, but we want to see also the implementation of it as agreed by the two parties," said Wani Edward, a builder.
In
the impoverished settlement of Minkammen, some 200 kilometres north of
Juba, teacher Simon Thon said that the news had been received with
relief.
Minkammen, a once-tiny riverbank settlement of a
few thatch huts, has swollen by some 80,000 people, who fled from
fighting in the key town of Bor, risking their lives to make the
dangerous crossing across the White Nile river to escape rebel attacks.
"It
is good news, but people are still waiting for what it really means,"
said Simon Thon, who fled after rebels stormed Bor, shooting those
residents who ran and using machetes or spears on those they caught.
"We need it to really end the fighting, and for that we must pray that everyone obeys," he added, speaking by telephone.
Thon
fled with his family including his heavily pregnant wife, who has since
given birth to a son, born beneath a tree in the camp.
"Things
are calm here, but people are still very, very frightened," he added.
"There is no way people can just go back home and forget what happened."
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