United States Agency for International Development or USAID on Thursday announced provision of 17 million US Dollars to fund the emergency education of Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs’ children in South Sudan.
USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa Linda Etim told journalists at Mahad IDPs’ Children Space Centre in Juba where 600 pupils are getting emergency education that education investment was the most important priority programs of the agency in the country.
She expressed US commitment to provide funds for UNICEF to implement what she described as ‘critical program of investing in people’.
UNICEF’s South Sudan Representative Jonathan Veitch commended USAID for the funding, saying it would enable the agency to educate 150 thousand children out of school due to conflict.
He added that the funds would also promote quality learning and children’s comfortable environment for playing, enjoyment, safety and understanding peaceful life to disassociate them from tribal conflict in South Sudan.
Mr Veitch appealed to the Defence ministry to withdraw SPLA forces from occupying 30 schools in Upper Nile region.
The Representative also urged both parties to leave schools, hospitals, dispensaries and other social service centres for humanitarian agencies to support citizens.
Mahad Children Space Centre Community Animator Mayen Kur Kuer commended USAID for the support.
He told international agencies that without early child education, children would become criminals and worthless.