The Disaster: See How Different People Reason
27th June 2022
“The Disaster” is an article designed to inform us about the frequent natural and man-made disasters that happen on Earth. Regrettably, numerous regions in Africa continue to grapple with the severe consequences of such calamities, including South Sudan, one of the newest nations confronting these challenges. Although this narrative is a piece of realistic fiction, its message remains as truthful as possible. Are you prepared to learn? If yes, then let us begin!
Related: Life Coaching Ultimate Guide
The First Dialogue
In the IDP camps: We, the citizens, are weary of this. We yearn for genuine peace to escape these confines and the IDP camps within our nation. We do not cherish residing in these places, but venturing out signifies more than one could ever fathom. To leave is to face death.
In towns: That’s a misconception. We are citizens of this great nation and we do not reside in any IDP camps, yet we live and thrive, just as you do. The allure of staying in those camps is the free aid received, but it is not beneficial in the long run. Leave the centers and embrace the routine of daily life. There is no threat to your life.
In refugee camps: Those of you in the IDP camps within the country fare better than us in refugee camps abroad. We are both foreigners and refugees, which is a dual burden. The recent global crises and pandemics have hit us hard. At least you are in our homeland, with the freedom to visit shops as you please. You are not imprisoned, as evidenced by your daily shopping trips.
Renting Abroad: Actually, you are in a better position living in South Sudan or refugee camps. Those in the country, IDPs or otherwise, are still free to visit their families. However, we who reside in foreign lands endure hardships greater than those in IDP and refugee camps. Life is challenging here, outside our homeland.
The Unemployed: The only individuals who seem to be better off are those employed by the government or various NGOs, both local and international. Those of us who are refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs) have no employment. Everyone who is jobless suffers greatly, regardless of whether they are within the country or abroad. Employment seems to bring better conditions, irrespective of one’s status as a refugee or IDP.
Government Employees: Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually those employed by NGOs who are in a better position than us government workers. We often go months without receiving our salaries, and when we do, it’s insufficient to cover basic necessities like a 10kg bag of maize flour. Despite our love for our jobs, our country, and our people, we continue to endure hardship. We are weary of this suffering; it’s undeserved. A solution is imperative. It seems all the funds are allocated to the military in our beloved nation.
NGO Employees: Actually, it’s the government workers who are better off. The government reigns supreme, controlling everything within the nation. Government employees engage in the black market, selling US dollars, making them some of the wealthiest in the country. We, the NGO workers, don’t fare any better than our counterparts in government positions.
Those Lower in the Hierarchy: It’s a misconception that all government workers enjoy the ‘national cake.’ Only those in top positions reap significant benefits. The rest of us earn modestly, and our pay isn’t regular. However, NGO employees receive consistent monthly payments in US dollars.
Top Officials: It’s a common misbelief, but even those of us in high government positions don’t earn substantial salaries. While a few may have illicitly acquired wealth, it’s neither legal nor widespread. Not all in leadership positions receive large sums of money monthly. The revenue from oil is intended for the nation’s use, not for individual government employees. The ‘national cake’ is not distributed legally among us.
Government Leadership: As the top government leadership, we do not distribute money to individuals; we utilize the funds to operate the country. Many aspects remain unknown unless one is part of the top leadership, as numerous details are confidential. It may seem likely or be a strong belief that top government officials are amassing significant wealth, but this perception is not necessarily accurate or realistic.
No individual steals their own resources. Those who misappropriate federal funds will face justice under the laws of this great nation. This may occur sooner or later if the culprits persist in diverting public funds intended for national development. Such individuals are thieves, and thievery exists within every community, not solely within the government. Thieves are present in markets and are pervasive throughout society.
National NGO Workers: Indeed, even those employed by NGOs do not earn substantial salaries unless they are foreigners. Foreign workers receive three times the compensation of national employees and often occupy the highest positions within NGOs.
Knowledge or observations are less significant than connections. Foreigners often befriend influential individuals within every organization, which facilitates their ascent to top leadership roles. There are nationals with superior expertise who are unable to secure top positions, a stark contrast to the situation in foreign countries, including neighboring ones.
Foreign NGO Workers: Being a foreigner does not guarantee a high salary unless one is female. Women have unique methods of ascending the job ladder, either through forming connections with superiors or because the superiors are inclined to offer them positions for which they may not be fully qualified. To earn a higher income or attain a managerial role within NGOs, being female is advantageous, provided one navigates the system effectively.
The Second Dialogue
Women argue that men are more privileged in this country, as they do not experience the challenges of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and child care, especially when financial stability is uncertain. Moreover, women endure the extreme weather to provide for their children and face hardships in refugee camps, IDP camps, and both rural and urban areas, within and outside the nation.
Men counter that they are the ones who suffer, as women, children, and the elderly have the advantage of staying at home and waiting for provisions. Men endure the struggles of military service and job hunting to support their growing families. They face death in wars, both the broader Sudanese conflict and the internal strife in South Sudan, as well as in cattle raids.
The elderly believe that the young do not suffer enough. In contrast, the aged, both men and women, endure greater hardships. They live in a state of waiting for death that does not arrive, enduring continuous pain, with life offering nothing but suffering.
Young people disagree, stating that children are the most fortunate. Children live carefree, smiling, laughing, and crying without concern. They are not burdened by life’s worries, living in the moment without thoughts of the past or future. They represent innocence and enjoy life to the fullest, seeing it as a delightful and sweet treat.
Lastly, the living claim that the dead are better off than those alive. The deceased do not recall life’s joys or sorrows; they feel nothing, existing in a state of non-life. Their existence ceased with their last breath, and they now reside in a realm of rest and eternal peace, leaving the world as it is.
The living: Indeed, those who are alive experience peace and joy. They savor life’s offerings and delights. Life is brief yet pleasurable, enjoyable, and fulfilling. It’s beneficial to pursue your dreams before passing away. The deceased have no prospects for the future; they cannot live again, at least not in this realm. If they are to exist, it must be in the next, the unknown existence. Thus, only the living can truly appreciate life, regardless of circumstances.
The rational: It is believed that those who are insane are more fortunate than the rest, for they no longer concern themselves with worldly matters. Regardless of whether they have eaten recently or possess clothing, they lead their lives unencumbered. Life is simple for them, devoid of obstacles. They have relinquished both their sense of humor and their worries about life and all its facets. Those who are mad are considered the most contented individuals on earth.
The non-existent: Those who never had the chance to experience life, including stillborn infants, are deemed more fortunate than all others. They never witnessed daylight or the sun. They passed too soon or never existed at all. They are not deceased, for they never lived. Unknown to anyone on earth, they are regarded as the happiest of beings.
Everyone seems to believe that others are better off than themselves. Those leading their daily lives think that individuals in IDP and refugee camps are faring better, while those in the camps believe the opposite is true.
The unemployed view the employed as living the good life, yet the employed may not feel as content as the unemployed imagine. The living envy the peace of the dead, but contrary opinions suggest otherwise. Workers in NGOs are perceived as prosperous, yet they envy government employees.
However, casting blame on others is futile and will not be effective in the future either. It fails to address real-life problems and instead adds to them, offering no solution to existing challenges.
The Third Dialogue
“Why do you think those residing in the UN camps, be they IDPs or refugees, are better off, Nyankir?” I inquired.
“I believe it’s because they are free. They have little to worry about. They are safe and know that at the end of the month, their allotted food ration will arrive. Thus, they have food, time, and the liberty to engage in many activities that we, who are outside the camps, cannot,” she replied.
“Would you choose to become a refugee or flee to a nearby IDP camp if conflict erupts again where you currently reside?” I questioned.
“Yes, I would have to. But I don’t want to think about fleeing again due to conflict. I’m weary of war. I was born into war; now, I’m a mother of three, all born amidst conflict. So, the thought of war is unbearable for me. However, if it recurs, as it often does, yes, I’ll seek refuge in any accessible camp,” she continued.
“Why do you believe those outside the refugee camps are better off than those within the camps, Nyanuär?” I asked.
“It’s because they live freely in their own homes. They aren’t confined to tents like we are in the camps. They have the freedom to travel anywhere, at any time, for any reason. For us, leaving the camps is difficult, especially at night or in the evening. We are guarded as if we were property. We no longer feel human because we’ve lost our sense of humanity and freedom. Being spoon-fed everything, we do not relish this captivity,” she elucidated.
You’re right, I did trim a lot of the original text. I focused on capturing the essence of each interview while keeping the overall piece concise. Here’s a revised version that incorporates some of the dialogue:
Voices from the Camp
Fear of violence kept Nyanuär trapped in the camp. “There’s still insecurity outside,” she explained, referencing the danger faced by women who ventured out. “I may not even reach my town home, let alone my village.”
Mony-jäng, yearning for a job, saw money as the key. “Any job is welcome if it has money,” he declared, emphasizing his willingness to do anything for a chance to improve his situation.
Mony-nuär offered a different perspective on wealth. He believed foreigners held an unfair advantage, gaining high positions “even if they don’t know what they are supposed to do.” He questioned if women were used to climb the ranks, but Nyanuär clarified, “I hope I’m not embarrassing anyone…females, whether foreigners or not, can and are finding their way to the top.”
Kiden pointed to the extravagant lifestyles of government officials. “They travel outside as frequently as they want…they have built big houses outside the country,” she listed. This visible wealth, she suggested, fueled the desire for political careers.
Biliw offered a somber view. “The dead are the happiest people ever,” he stated, believing they were free from pain. Even faced with death, however, his survival instinct kicked in. “No human or animal wants to die,” he admitted.
These glimpses into the lives within the camp reveal a complex tapestry of fear, hope, and the constant struggle to survive. (The names used are fictional.)
Further Readings
- Disaster: What Is It? – Wikipedia.
- The Disasters: Hardcover – Amazon.
- Natural Disaster – Wikipedia.
- Man-Made Disaster – Emergency Management.
