By Ajak Diing Deng
South Sudan has celebrated its 12th year of independence this year, but its citizens still lack access to clean drinking water. The majority of people in South Sudan rely on water tankers owned by foreign companies to access clean drinking water, creating an unsustainable situation for many of its citizens.
The lack of access to clean water is one of the major challenges facing South Sudan. Poor sanitation and hygiene practices, combined with a lack of adequate infrastructure, have left much of the population without access to potable water. This lack of access has a direct impact on the health and well-being of South Sudanese citizens, leading to higher
rates of water-borne diseases and other illnesses.
In an effort to address this issue, the government of South Sudan hasn’t made efforts to increase access to safe drinking water. This hasn’t included the establishment of water points in rural areas and the construction of boreholes and wells in urban areas. However, many of these none efforts are hampered by limited resources and a lack of sufficient infrastructure.
The government has recently attempted to reduce the dependence on foreign-owned water tankers by regulating the prices charged by these companies. However, with a lack of financial resources and limited capacity, the government has been unable to effectively enforce these regulations.
In order to improve access to clean drinking water, the government of South Sudan must invest more resources into creating the necessary infrastructure. This includes expanding existing water points and constructing new ones, as well as improving the existing water networks.
Additionally, the government should focus on increasing the capacity of its regulatory agencies to enforce regulations and ensure that foreign-owned water tankers are charging fair prices.
Finally, the government should make an effort to raise awareness of the importance of safe drinking water and the risks of using water from unsafe sources. This will help to ensure that people are making informed decisions about their water supply and will help to reduce the dependence on foreign-owned water tankers.
This article looks at the current state of drinking water in South Sudan 12 years after its independence. South Sudan is the world’s youngest nation and yet it is facing a difficult and complex problem in terms of providing clean drinking water for its citizens. This article examines the factors that have contributed to this problem, the current solutions
available, and the potential for positive change in the future.
South Sudan declared its independence on July 9, 2011, making it the world’s youngest nation. This followed a decades-long struggle for independence, which began in 1955 and reached its peak in the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005). During this period, millions of people were displaced and an estimated two million people died due to
war-related causes.
In the wake of independence, South Sudan has faced numerous challenges and struggles. These have included economic instability and a lack of infrastructure, as well as political instability and civil unrest. In addition, the nation has also struggled to provide clean drinking water
for its citizens.
The lack of access to clean drinking water is a significant problem in South Sudan. According to a report by UNICEF, only 22% of the population has access to improved water sources, such as piped water. This leaves 78% of the population without access to safe drinking water. The lack of access to clean water has a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of the population, particularly children.
The problem of access to clean drinking water in South Sudan is exacerbated by a number of factors. These include a lack of infrastructure, poverty, and environmental factors such as flood. In addition, the ongoing conflict in the region has also led to
displacement of people, leaving them without access to clean water.
The current solutions available for providing clean drinking water in South Sudan are limited. One of the most common solutions is the use of water tankers owned by foreigners. These tankers are filled with water from distant sources and brought to towns and around it. This solution is often the only source of drinking water for many people, but it is not a sustainable solution as it is expensive and unreliable.
In addition, there are also a number of initiatives in place to provide access to clean drinking water. These include the drilling of boreholes, building of wells, and the installation of water pumps. All of these solutions require significant investment and are often difficult to implement in remote areas.
Despite the challenges, there is potential for positive change in South Sudan when it comes to access to clean drinking water. There is an opportunity to develop sustainable solutions that are cost-effective and reliable. This includes the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar, to power water pumps and provides clean drinking water in remote
areas. In addition, there is also the potential for the government to invest in infrastructure projects to improve access to clean drinking water.
South Sudan has faced numerous issues since its independence 12 years ago, including a lack of access to clean drinking water for its citizens. The current solutions are limited and often unreliable, but there is potential for positive change in the future. With the right
investments and initiatives, it is possible to ensure that all citizens of South Sudan have access to clean drinking water.
The writer can be contacted on E-mail: ajakdiing91@gmail.com>