The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Union in South Sudan have signed a grant agreement worth 7 million Euros.
The funds offered by the EU will be used for humanitarian in South Sudan.
The project which is expected to run for three years is dubbed “Pocket of hope in South Sudan” and it aims to ease livelihoods, facilitate protection of returnees, IDPs, and humanitarian assistance to war and flood-affected areas.
UNHCR representative Arafat Jamal says the 7 million Euros project will have a positive impact on the living condition of communities in need of assistance.
“We are here for the singing between the UNHCR and the Eu. It is quite a momentous event for all of us and we are delighted about that. It’s a 7 million Euro project of 3 years and it’s focused on areas that we consider “pockets of hope in South Sudan,” he said.
Arafat says the project is to enable displaced persons and the local community to have access to protection centres, self-reliance-oriented support that advances reintegration, peace, and development.
The European Union Ambassador to South Sudan, Timo Olkkonen says the humanitarian situation in South Sudan is very severe and needs a quick response to support returnees.
The Ambassador said their recent visit to parts of the country, particularly Bentiu, Ruweng Administrative area, Torit and Magwi, in Eastern Equatoria state saw them witness several challenges that affected people.
He mentioned that such difficulties need to be addressed in the medium and the longer term to realize development in South Sudan.
“We need to assist the people of South Sudan to meet the challenges that they have today but we need to also move forward in developmental terms about how we can support South Sudan in the medium and longer term and this program are about that.” Olkkonen Added.
This year, the EU allocated €85.3 million for humanitarian actions covering the response to food insecurity, violence and floods across South Sudan