Disarmed civilians in Akobo County, Jonglei State, have turned to cement block-making to support their families, rather than rustling their neighbours' cattle.

Thirty-six disarmed youth aged 20-27 recently took a one-week block-making course conducted by the non-governmental organization ASCOM International, and established the Akobo Youth Block Making Association.

"I find it (this programme) very useful in the sense that one day with some funds one can make one's own blocks for sale," said association field monitor Chiony Garwich Yak, adding that the blocks currently went into a common store.

The youths were disarmed after heavy tribal fighting among the Lou Nuer, Dinka and Murle tribes left an array of small arms and light weapons in the hands of Jonglei civilians.

Originally linked to cattle rustling, fighting among communities had progressed to raiding, abduction, deliberate killing of civilians and retaliatory attacks, according to the Joint UN Justice Programme.

While the country's 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) emphasizes the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of military forces, it barely touches on disarming of civilians.

Following the signing of the CPA, the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) put in place voluntary civilian disarmament efforts in various parts of the country.

"Carrying arms has been made illegal for civilians ... the Sudan penal code will be used to punish any one who fails to give up arms," said Akobo County Commissioner Goi Jok Yol.

In 2006, people in Akobo began a voluntary community driven disarmament exercise, supported by the GoSS and the UN DDR Unit, surrendering an estimated 1,500 arms.

"I decided to disarm because there was no longer a reason to carry a weapon, since the government will provide protection to our properties and our people," said block-maker Peter Pal Chuol, 26, who gave up an AK-47.

Another 1,000 arms were confiscated from cattle camps and homesteads by county authorities in February 2010, with the help of local chiefs, the Sudanese People's Liberation Army and Southern Sudan Police Service.

The block-making project was initiated to give civilians an alternative source of income other than cattle rustling and raids.

In addition to the training, ASCOM donated four block-making machines, loaned the group cement and promised to buy their finished products. The four machines can produce 3,500 blocks each in 16 days.

"ASCOM has promised to buy them at the price of 5 SDG ($2) per block," said Mr. Yak. "Each cement bag produces 75 pieces of block and one group can use five to seven bags of cement per day."

Women in the town, especially those displaced by area conflict, have also benefited from the project. They collect sand and gravel from Akobo River and sell it to the block makers for 7 SDG ($3) per bucket.

"I use the money (from the gravel) to buy food for my four kids," said 25-year-old Nyadeng Nyang Top, whose husband left for North Sudan to seek work, but has not contacted her for over nine months.

Nyachuot Chuol Kuon, 43, also collects gravel to buy food for her two children. "I am trying to survive because there was no rain and (there was) last year's insecurity as well."

According to Commissioner Goi Jok, USAID has plans to provide boats. These will allow the youth to support their families by engaging in trade.