 in South Sudan has received the first consignment of food for the Unified Forces after two years. ){kind=link}
The National Transitional Committee (NTC) in South Sudan has received the first consignment of food for the Unified Forces after two years.
The NTC last procured food items for the forces at various training centres in 2020.
The arrival of this food aid is a significant development as it will help address the challenge of deploying phase I and II of the Unified Forces to the cantonment sites.
At least 30 tracks loaded with assorted food items for the deployment and commencement of phase I of necessary unified forces were seen at the time.
The tracks arrived in Juba on Wednesday and are among 97 tracks designated for South Sudan.
According to the Chairperson of the NTC, Tut Gatluak Manime, more trucks are still on the way and are expected to arrive in Juba soon.
The trucks loaded with beans, lentils, sugar, flour, oil, and others food items are reported to have come from Uganda and Tanzania.
However, Gatluak Manime did not disclose how much the food items had cost.
The Chairperson also said that the redeployment of the forces was delayed due to a lack of food, and the arrival of these trucks of food will help speed up the implementation of the Peace Agreement, especially Chapter II, which is the security arrangement.
The South Sudan Minister of Peace building, Stephen Par Kuol said this is the first time in the history of NTC that they have received a total of 97 trucks out of the 100 trucks designated for South Sudan.
According to Par, this emergency food is to facilitate the deployment of forces and the commencement of phase II.
The Minister applauded the peace partners and stakeholders who are working hard to ensure the peace process is implemented in letter and spirit.
Chief Security Advisor of RJMEC, South Sudan, Mister Jeffrey Mapendere welcomes the food supply to the training centres and cantonment sites.
Mapendere said this food will help in the deployment of Phase I and II in different cantonment sites and training centres and it should not be delayed.
Jeffery pointed out that food is very important, but the allowances for the trainers, instructors, and all those who help in the distribution of the food should be taken into consideration.
In May this year, South Sudan’s Council of Ministers approved 3.6 billion South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) for the deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces in the country.