Registration Exercise Interrupted As Community Seek Food Assistance In Paloch

17 November 2010 – (Rumbek) – The voter registration exercise has been interrupted by floods which hit Paloch Payam in Rumbek East county, Lakes state a few weeks ago.

According to the area member of parliament, Honorable Madhieu Makuac Adhil, the residents have been forced to travel far to get food rations from the World Food Program.

Makuac said that the area has been made inaccessible after the Bar–Naam bridge broke down as a result of the floods.

[Madhieu Makuac]: “Registration in Paloch is going at a very slow pace. The turnout is very low because registration coincided with distribution. This area some few weeks ago was affected by floods. So those who were affected by the floods were given assistance by WFP. Unfortunately again the bridge which is Bar Naam bridge is broken so the trucks cannot cross that bridge with the loads, so the community at Paloch has gone for food distribution. They went since last Saturday, and up to now they are still there. But according to Chief Ral Makoe, the community has already received the food and they will start coming today or tomorrow and immediately they arrive they have to register and this is actually what is happening.”

Makuac added that the cattle keepers have been allocated their own registration centre in Alou. He called on those who will be registered to take good care of their registration cards so that the can be able to vote during the referendum.