Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR) has handed over 30 plot registration documents to vulnerable community members in Bentiu in Unity State.
According to the statement extended to the media the handing over is part of the coalition efforts ensuring land rights.
Gizam Moses the Programme Officer of Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR) expressed the beneficiaries who lost valuables during the conflict.
“The coalition is responding to the ardent needs of the vulnerable community members who lost all their valuables during the 2013 crisis. Through the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, the coalition has identified thousands of vulnerable community members who are in dire needs of residential plot documents” he said
He added that the vulnerable people who need help include people with disabilities (PWDs), war widows, orphans and the elderly.
Moses added that Legal land acquisition and occupation is the only pathway to combating land grabbing, land expropriation without a fair compensation, land-based conflict and vulnerabilities of the underprivileged section of our society.
“I call upon the state government especially, the State Members of Parliament, community leaders, faith-based groups and local civil society organizations to scale up awareness raising on the importance of land registration even at customary level” he said.
Moses expressed that development shall come with its own challenges on land resources hence the land and property rights of vulnerable groups must be protected and respected.
“We thank our reliable partners NPA South Sudan, the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare and the State Parliament for working hand in hand with us towards realization of these crucial community aspiration” he said.
He reaffirmed commitment to working with the organizations in order to help the vulnerable enjoy their full land rights.
On here part Nyeawujume Puok Bol one of the beneficiaries expressed her gratitude to CSCNR and their partners for supporting her and her peers recover their lost land documents.
“I am so excited about what Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources has done to process these documents for us, because we ourselves cannot afford to pay the amount needed by the state Ministry of Land, Housing and Public Utilities for the process. Most of us are vulnerable and cannot manage to construct houses on our lands without support from humanitarian’ organizations” Nyeawujume said
She appealed to the state to double efforts in supporting the vulnerable people in the state.
On his part Mathiot Dut Gatluak a member of parliament (MP) in Unity State Legislative Assembly appreciated the civil society for their job.
“Today I am happy to meet the leadership of Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR) which has handed over 30 plot registration documents to vulnerable people in Bentiu who were affected during the 2013” he said