Germany gives S. Sudan $5.4m humanitarian assistance
The German ambassador to South Sudan, Mr Peter Benger (left), announcing the 5 million euro humanitarian support in Juba March 2, 2016. At right is Mr Jonathan Veitch, the Unicef representative in South Sudan. PHOTO | nmg
What you need to know:
The money is channelled through Unicef, Mr Benger disclosed during the press conference at the European Union compound
Juba. Germany has released $5.4 million humanitarian support to South Sudan.
The German Ambassador to South Sudan, Mr Peter Benger, announced at a news conference in Juba on Wednesday that the donation was meant to address health and education issues.
The money is channelled through Unicef, Mr Benger disclosed during the press conference at the European Union compound.
He said due to erratic weather patterns, partly blamed on the El-Nino phenomenon in eastern Africa; malaria, acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and respiratory infections, could likely increase drastically.
“As South Sudan is in transition to achieve sustainable peace, the main international focus is currently on the implementation of the peace agreement. Therefore, I am even happier that the German government and many German private donors provide additional funds to directly support those who are at higher risk,” Mr Benger said.
Germany was allocating $100 million to South Sudan annually to help in service delivery in the young nation, which still has a huge demand for basic services. The Unicef representative in South Sudan, Mr Jonathan Veitch, welcomed the donation saying it was timely for the children’s agency to fulfill its emergency preparedness and response projects.
He explained that the bulk of the money would be used to address three major communicable diseases; malaria, cholera and HIV and Aids in the most vulnerable areas or were at increased risk.
Mr Veitch disclosed that over 1,000 children, adolescents and youth and teachers would benefit from education services to reduce the stress and trauma caused by the protracted conflict in South Sudan.
“Because of the support we have received from Germany, the lives of some of the country’s most vulnerable children are being saved and their future transformed,” he said.
“Keeping newborns and their mothers healthy and providing more children with the chance to learn are vital investments in the growth and stability of this nation,” he added. (NMG)
