By Ephraim Modi D.S
The Kajo-Keji Youth Association (KKYA) coordination office in Juba in line with its strategic plan of 2021-2022 has on Thursday launched a scheme to support 88,387 vulnerable persons in Kajo-Keji County.
The project is aimed at lobbying for second hand and new clothing, footwear, bags, utensils, scholastic materials, cash among others, to support returnees, displaced persons and children in the county.
It is as a result of the relative calm with the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement that has led to spontaneous return of some internally displaced persons and others from the refugee camps.
Speaking on phone to No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, the KKYA Spokesperson Mr. Pitia James said the project intends to support vulnerable persons who are singled out to be returnees, IDPs, and school children.
“The population is in dire need of support both food and non-food items given that all properties and sources of livelihoods have been destroyed and lost as a result of the conflict in 2016,” Pitia said.
He tipped that the project would help strengthen the people more in these crises, and remove the fear in them on how to face the situation from zero.
The spokesperson of KKYA also called upon the humanitarian agencies to respond to the call on ground to curb the challenges facing the people in the county.
“There is need for intervention of humanitarian agencies to go to Kajo-Keji County. You see when a population is displaced, the community is vulnerable of everything,” he noted.
Mr. Pitia on the other hand applauded the partners on the ground who are particularly working in the health and education sectors which are completely crippled.
He however, reiterated that after the collection period of the assistance that runs from 27 July till end of November this year, an in depth analysis shall be conducted to ensure that items collected are directly used as per the intended purpose.
The Kajo-Keji youth spokesperson in Juba requested the general public including the youth, church-based organizations, community-based organizations, business community, all international agencies, and the government institutions to contribute generously to achieve this milestone initiative for welfare of the vulnerable people in Kajo-Keji County who are suffering from the consequences of destructions during the conflict that emerged in 2016.
The Director of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Kajo-Keji County Mr. Moses Pijakajo commended the leadership of KKYA for gearing up the strategic action of mobilizing funds to support the susceptible population in the County.
“I think it is a good idea, you know these people just returned and there is no support given to them and they are really in need,” he said.
Mr. Pijakajo stated that most of the partners in the area are focusing on the health sector and others on food security livelihood (FSL) facilities and most of the partners projects are coming to an end.
He further added that there’s limited number of partners in education department which remains a big challenge in the area since school children will have to travel a long distance to study with limited scholastic materials.
Mr. Pijakajo also emphasized on the limited support on offering shelter to the returnees.
“There are those who came here more than a year ago and have already settled and are helping by offering shelter to some of the returnees but there is no any other shelter given to them,” he said.