Hunger Relief: Final Round

Shortly before Holy Week, Lino Langoya - the diocese's food security coordinator in Palotaka, informed me that he had been able to collect another four tons of grain to distribute to communities affected by drought and hunger. I was unable to arrange the pickup and delivery of these supplies before I left for Easter, but followed up on it at the earliest opportunity after returning.

Overturned trailer blocking the road.

As happens with most road trips in Sudan, we ran into something unexpected along the way. This time it was a trailer that overturned on a small, damaged culvert bridge, blocking the way for the large truck we brought to haul the grain. After assessing the situation and checking out the options, the driver decided to make a detour through the bush alongside the road. I had my doubts, but was proved wrong when the lorry (truck) emerged successfully from the bamboo grove on the other side of the bridge.

Palotaka - lush and green again.

Loading the lorry (also below).

Palotaka has gotten some rain since our last trip. Not as much or as constant as they would like, but enough to make everything green and lush again. We followed the same routine as our earlier trips, and after the grain was loaded by some local men we proceeded with the delivery.

Baby alligator in the puddle along the road.

On the way to delivery the grain we had another unexpected encounter, this time in the form of a baby alligator in one of the large puddles along the road. He hid in the water when we got out to take his picture, but we coaxed him out again by slowing backing into the puddle.

The bishop requested that this installment of grain be divided among two villages west of Torit: Himoru and Imurok. They needed the grain, and he wanted to acknowledge the efforts they had made recently to improve their communities by clearing roads and preparing land for communal cultiviation.

Gabriel, the catechist, explaining the donation of grain to people at the borehole (well) in Himoru.

Some of the children of Himoru.

Some of the women of Himoru.

Offloading the grain.

Boys playing soccer.

A local classroom (with student roster posted on the tree) using a latrine slab as a table.

An adult English literacy class learning the alphabet.

Gabriel, the catechist for that sector accompanied us on the journey and explained to the communities the purpose of the grain. Samuel, an agriculturist with the diocese, also came along to inspect the fields the communities had prepared for cultivation.

Field cleared for community cultivation of corn.

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