By William Madouk
World Bank has allocated $7 million to support flood-affected population in Aweil East and South counties, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State of South Sudan.
The funds will be used under Enhance Community Resilient projects.
International Rescue Committee (IRC) will be the implementer of the project dubbed ‘Enhancing Community Resilient Projects II (ECRP II).’
The project targets to benefit 950,000 flood-affected people with development assistance needs in Aweil.
In his remark during the launching, the Chairperson of Local Government Board, Micheal Majok Agar said World Bank has offered $150 million as fund emergency flood response to affected states.
“Component 3 in the two counties (Aweil East and Aweil South) of this state with a budget value of USD 7 million,” he said.
Mr. Agar explained that ECRP II was officially launched in 2022 in Juba and the other five states affected by inundations.
“As government, we commit ourselves to overseeing the successful implementation of this project in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and other five states and two administrative areas,” he assured.
Comas Ayella, an Interim Country Director for IRC said “today we are very happy and glad, we have launched the resilient program with the government of South Sudan. A project being supported by the World Bank.”
“The responsibility that we are taking as IRC is to implement the emergency flood response under the IRC project – it is a great milestone that shows that NGOs and government can work together to ensure that the lives and livelihood of people are saved,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Guyson Adlkobaa, project manager cited that “so, we are very grateful for the successful launch the governor and his deputy have graced the occasion.”
He added “and we congratulate the IRC who is going to be the implementer of this project.”
Besides, Ms. Abour Gordon Nhial, state minister of peacebuilding and acting minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency said “to attend this launch, is historical which our community will appreciate because they have been suffering for a long due to flood.”
“Through resilient, our community will improve lives and livelihood of the community is the objective of this government. Our government need to take service to the people,” she added.
Ms. Abour said the project alleviated and revived the hope within the people who lost everything to devasting floods, adding that nobody was expecting that the response would be so quick.
From her part, the commissioner of Aweil South County, Luka Thel Thel cited that “this project, it should help our community, particularly local community – it will help women, youth.”
He continued “and as well, we the government will cooperate with the department to ensure the success of the project.”