Government should partner with humanitarian agencies to mitigate impact of floods

Over 1.3 million people have lost nearly their assets due to heavy flooding this year in the country.

The transitional unity government earmarked nearly 80 million U.S dollars for the flood response plan, but this seems to be a drop in the ocean.

The government despite it’s well known financial struggles needs to up it’s game by either increasing the budget for the humanitarian response.

Over reliance on the support of humanitarian agencies has left the government impotent in the face of catastrophes that threaten thousands of people.

South Sudan is one of the countries that are most reliant on humanitarian assistance, and this is cannot guarantee the effectiveness in responding to natural disasters and other unforeseen emergencies in future. The solution lies in building resilience at the moment with the support the United Nastions and partners.

This does not mean that the government should sit idly and let all the work be done by humanitarian agencies.

The other thing, that the government should address immediately are the rampant check points and obstructions to humanitarian assistance. This remains one of the common impediments to effective humanitarian response in the country.