Save the Children warned that coronavirus is threatening nearly four million already-vulnerable children in South Sudan
South Sudan Country Director, Rama Hansraj in a statement extended to CRN, called for urgent funding to ensure that their response reaches every child, especially those most in need.
The official said governments, international and local responders should work together to ensure protection is mainstreamed in all interventions.
The country director said ‘the government of South Sudan must work to allocate greater funds to build a robust health system and ensure it has the capacity to not only treat the current COVID-19 outbreak’.
Hansraj called on South Sudan government also allow it to continue to focus on other killer diseases of children under five years.
‘As the country enters malaria and pneumonia season, we’re very concerned that an already-stretched system will reach breaking point’, the official pointed out.
Save the Children is also concerned about the potential economic impact of the crisis, posing a risk to children’s wellbeing, education and protection in the country.
Any further economic slowdown triggered by COVID-19, coupled with food insecurity, is likely to have a heavy toll on child mortality, the organization cautioned.