What Comes Next

On the 9th of July, 2011, South Sudan became a country.  It wasn't clean, although the proposed lines had been drawn up years ago by the British.  But those are just lines on a map, not on the earth.  It reminds me of what Arthur said to Merlin as he was allowed to see with the eyes of a hawk.  Merlin had asked him 'what do you see?'  and Arthur replied, 'I don't see any borders.'   These borders are just as difficult for  nomadic peoples to recognize.  So they argue about them, and sometimes fight about them.

There are oil reserves in South Sudan.  But there is no port.  To get the oil out of the country to be sold, requires a pipeline, and this pipeline goes through Sudan to the Port of Sudan.  Sudan has told South Sudan that it is OK to use the pipeline as long as they are willing to pay for its use.  Most pipelines in the area ask for about 1 dollar per barrel.  Sudan is asking for 38 dollars per barrel.  South Sudan thinks that is a bit too much, so to save money, they have stopped shipping oil.  However, oil is the primary means for South Sudan to make any money.  As a result, they don't have much money.  Which is not good for infrastructure.
About two weeks ago I was asked to go to South Sudan with Doctors Without Borders, to help with taking care of war wounded and others needing medical and surgical help.  So I will go.  It is tough.  The operating room is in a tent.  There are no real bathrooms.  There are latrine pits that require squatting over a hole.  The temperature is 120 to 130 degrees.  I'm afraid that it will make the heat of Sri Lanka seem like the north shore of Lake Superior.

Remember hearing of Darfur?  The Lost Boys of Darfur?  The genocide in Sudan?  2 million people dead?  4 million people displaced?  So here I go...