Some problems we experienced:

• bureaucratic obstacles were overcome as mentioned above. Since locally there is no experience with independently organised aid, some extensive discussions with officials in Jinka and Dimeka were required in order to gai n all necessary permits. After initial hesitation these conversations went very well and our project was granted full support.
• minor procedural problems in Arbore were –as customary - discussed and solved in public meetings
• since no major emergency aid organisations operate in the South, the transport of the maize with privately chartered trucks turned out be the most challenging part of the project. Since the available trucks are generally old and the roads are in bad repair, several times we experienced delays in delivery of the grains due to roadside repairs or even had to hire new trucks altogether. In addition, in Phase 1 the situation was aggravated through the onset of heavy rains and ensuing flooding.

The maize truck stopping on the destroyed road to Arbore (May 2003)

Fixing the road

Back on the road to Arbore