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26FOCUS-AUGUST2012TheYidaRefugeeCampinSouthSudansprawledlikeavastvillagebelowourCessnaaircraftx13just18kilometresawayfromoneofthenewestinternationalbordersintheworlddividingSudanfromSouthSudanthenewestnationintheworld.Ihadnotexpectedarefugeecamptolooklikeasmallandgrowingtownbutinmanywaysthatisexactlywhatithasbecome.Atownbynobodyx19schoice.IwastherebychoicethoughandbytheinvitationofSamaritanx19sPurseaChristianchar-itybetterknowninPortPerryastheChristmasShoeboxpeople.ManyScugogchurchespartici-pateinthisprogrameveryyear.Shoeboxesare-lledwithsmalloftenpracti-calgiftsandSamaritanx19sPursedistributesthemtochildreninneedaroundtheworld.Idoiteveryyearwithourthreekidsandthatwasre-allytheextentofmyknowledgeofthisorgani-zation.ThenbecauseofmyworkasafreelancejournalistandeditorwhospecializesinsocialjusticeissuesoftenwithintheCanadianChurchPresscommunityIwasinvitedtojoiname-diatourthatincludedaphotojournalistfromCalgaryaCBCradiofreelancerfromTorontoandmeaprintjournalistfromPortPerry.HowcouldIpossiblysaynoOurjourneytoYidawasatwo-and-a-halfhour.ightfromthetinydimairportinJubathecapitalcityofSouthSudan.Butfortherefu-geeswhomaketheirwaytoYidaitisusuallyatrekfromtwoto10daysalmostalwaysonfootcarryingchildrenandwhatpossessionsfoodandwatertheymanagedtobring.InandaroundtheJubaairportsignsstillhangthatsayx1cCountdowntoSouthernSudanReferendum.x1dTheyfeatureasketchofahandramrodstraightabovealargeinkedthumb-printinacircleandthewordx1cSeparation.x1dHeattimeanddusthavemadetheposterslookolderthantheymustactuallybebecausethevotetookplacejustoverayearagoinJanuary2011andthedreamofindependencebecamerealityonJuly92011.ThedreamitselfofaSudanfreeofwarandparticularlyaSouthfreeofroutineanddev-astatingattacksisdying.OillyingrichanddarkunderthedryredgroundofSouthSudanx13withthepipelinethattakesittomarketlaidacrosstheNorthx13muddiesthewaters.SodothenewborderlinesthatseparatedScugogSamaritansGroupdispensesaidfromx1cSamaritanx19sPursex1dtorefugeesincampsalongtheSouthSudanborderKarenStillerafreelancejournalistwhowritesforFocusonScugogwasamonganumberofjournalistswhotravelledtotheSudanrecently.SheisseenherewithrefugeesoutsidetheMabanRefugeeCampwhoarewaitingtoregisterforhumanitarianaidandshelter.