There are rising concerns that South Sudan is struggling to keep the economy afloat following the closure of oil production √ɬê the country’s main source of revenue.
NGOs have become the country’s main source of aid amid poor health indicators, high flow of returnees and refugees and prevailing poverty and food insecurity.UNHCR says almost one million people have so far been repatriated from Sudan.
Communications officer Teresa Ongaro said the agency is concerned that meeting the returnees’ expectations will need more than what is currently being offered in terms of land, food, housing, health, school, jobs
UNFPA’s South Sudan deputy executive director Kate Gilmore said during her visit to the country in June that it will take the country many more years to achieve the 2015 Millennium Development Goals of reducing maternal deaths by 75 percent.
Cordaid charity has been working with the national ministry of health for more than two decades, facilitating Yambio Hospital and at least 15 health centres all over the country.
Head of mission Akinyi Walenda said the country has witnessed a thin improvement on its health issues.
She added that the Government is not earmarking enough money for health.
The UN food agencies warn that the country will face hunger if urgent action is not taken now.
FAO South Sudan head of mission Peterschmitt Etienne said food insecure families are gradually increasing and inflation goes well over 100 percent in critical goods.
Lack of paved roads makes accessibility a struggle and they ate nearly impassable during the rainy season.
Insecurity in some areas also sabotages the efforts of reaching vulnerable citizens.
The World Bank said in a leaked document that South Sudan is likely to meet an economic crisis with huge inflation and exhaustion of reserves.