Construction begins in South Sudan, world's newest nation

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
9/13/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Majority of population still living in mud and grass huts

South Sudan, in existence for little more than a year, remains at odds with Sudan, its original host nation. Skirmishes between the two countries are ongoing. In the meantime, the struggling city of Juba, designated as South Sudan's capital, construction is ongoing to make it a city that residents can be proud of.

Change in South Sudan remains painful. Workers at construction sites live in squalor as they cannot cope with rising living costs.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The formerly war-torn village has begin to change rapidly with tall buildings and concrete houses being built everywhere. The construction boom here has triggered optimism among many. Everything, from ministries to offices is under construction, giving the people of this new nation hope for the future.

Seceding from Sudan in July of last year, has become the fastest developing country in Africa. Investments are mostly from foreign-educated South Sudanese or from the Middle East, building homes for their families or hotels for future clients.

The recent flux of expatriates working for non-governmental agencies, along with an array of firms has spurred the construction craze further.

Change here remains painful. Workers at construction sites live in squalor as they cannot cope with rising living costs.

Four-fifths of the South Sudanese population still lives in tukuls, traditional African grass or mud huts. Many locals say that while their city is being transformed, but their lives haven't changed as yet.

"One day, I'll build a house, a big storey house. This day will come, but at the moment, I'm still living in this thatch room with my seven children," explains one Juba resident.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Juba, South Sudan, construction, Sudan, conflict

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1 - 1 of 1 Comments

yurdle
9 months ago
I was an aid worker in rural South Sudan for two years. I don't think the tukul is an appropriate proxy for squalor, they are much cooler than brick and motor construction and can be maintained with local materials. Maybe disease rates,or life expectancy, income data?

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