By William Madouk Garang
Vice President for gender and youth cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng De’Mabior has succeeded in securing 3.7 billion US dollars from World Food Programme to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.
Nyandeng, who is in charge of the gender and youth cluster in the unity government , traveled to Italy’s capital, Rome, in November where she gave a presentation on the humanitarian situation in the country at the WPF conference.
After accomplishing the mission successfully, she briefed the cabinet yesterday on the outcome as well as the money granted for the country.
Speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting which was chaired by President Salva Kiir, the minister of Information, Micheal Makuei said WPF agreed to allocate funds for humanitarian support.
“The Cabinet listened to the presentation from Her Excellency Rebecca Nyandeng the Vice President on her mission to World Food Programme [conference] on country’s strategic plan 2023/2024” Makuei who is also the government’s spokesperson said.
“In her presentation, she said she negotiated for South Sudan a sum of 3.7 billion dollars grant for the people of the Republic of South Sudan” he continued.
The minister of Information stated that the presentation was appreciated and approved by Cabinet, adding that the fund will be used to respond to issues of flood, agriculture, food security and disaster management.
Makuei further said that, the Cabinet directed all line ministries to study the report, pick areas of interest and prepare their plans.
“All ministries were directed to read that report and pick the areas of their concern and start to develop them in form of projects” he revealed.
The conference that kicked off on November 5, through to 16 November 2022 was to seek a universal declaration on the eradication of hunger and malnutrition.
WFP works to ensure that vulnerable people affected by conflict, displacement, climate shocks (flooding and drought), and economic crises can meet their food and nutrition needs, either through the distribution of foodstuffs or cash transfers.
A joint report by the WFP, FAO and other humanitarian agencies shows that up to seven million South Sudanese could face severe malnutrition in the first two quarters of 2023.
The report further warned that about 1.4 million children in South Sudan could face malnutrition during the same period under review.