By Charles K Mark
Charity Organisation, Save the Children has received 6.2 Million Euros to support a project on building resilience, and empowering South Sudanese for peace and prosperity.
The funding will be directed to families, children, youth and women for increased access to basic health, nutrition, food security and livelihoods, child protection, and disaster preparedness services.
The three (3) year project will reach its target with lifesaving and life-sustaining services in three conflict-affected states of Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity, particularly in Robkona, Malakal and Akobo.
Program Manager for the European Union, Senastian Cocard said more than 230,000 people will benefit from the project.
“We know about the fragilities and the huge needs, the money is not enough to address all the needs, but the idea is to address short-term needs with long-term perspectives to help people resettle,” she said.
She explained that the money is meant for livelihood, resilience, peacebuilding, community dialogue, preventing or mitigating conflicts and creating job opportunities for youth and women.
A combination of communal conflict, a worsening economic crisis, and poor harvests, coupled with increased floods and food insecurity worsened by the climate crisis has left an estimated 9 million people, including refugees in South Sudan, in critical need.
Save the Children said the the project will target the most vulnerable including displaced persons affected by conflict, especially children, who are at the most risk of malnutrition and disease.
Director of Programme Operation at Save the Children, Omar Ibrahim, Ahmed said the agency will train in Akobo, community leaders on basic psychosocial support skills, such as Psychological First Aid, and disseminate culturally relevant key Mental Health and Psychosocial Support messages.
“The project is not merely an investment infrastructure; it is an investment in the well-being and resilience of communities,” he said.