South Sudan Non-governmental Organisations, NGO Forum on Thursday hailed donors for pledging 600 million US Dollars in Oslo, Norway for humanitarian aid in the country.
South Sudan Older People’s Organisation Director Donato Ochan said the Forum witnessed donors’ struggle to raise the amount, saying it is a gift to be grateful of.
He thanked the donors for generous contribution to South Sudan considering humanitarian crisis in Central African Republic, Syria and other countries.
EVE Women Organisation Director Rita Martin said the humanitarian aid pledge came at the right time when crisis was at its peak of the rainy season, posing cholera threats especially among women and children.
She added that if the donation would be well utilized it would save lives in the country.
RAAH Executive Director Henry Taban Solomon said national NGOs are lobbying for quota system adjustment to access humanitarian funds to serve many communities at lower costs compared to their international counterparts.
He suggested that once the pledges are translated into realities, it would be appropriate for UN agencies and other international organisations to allocate 50 percent to national organisations to utilize local skills built now for over 30 years.
National NGO leader Hafeez Ali Wani told journalists that priorities of humanitarian aid include health; food security; protection and emergency education.
He clarified that donors were very specific on their pledges.