South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The government has reported that South Sudan continues to face significant humanitarian challenges, with an estimated 9 million people projected to be in urgent need of assistance by 2025.
Albino Akol Atak, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, explained that the severe humanitarian crisis is primarily due to floods, the economic downturn, and the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.
“You all know that, due to these factors, our people are extremely vulnerable. More than 9 million individuals are constantly seeking humanitarian assistance,” Akol stated during the reception ceremony for the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Tuesday.
Akol said that the majority of people are unable to produce food due to floods and climate change.
“This is why we have that vulnerability. Our vision in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is to help these people transition from dependency on humanitarian assistance to self-reliance,” he said.
Akol revealed plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to create jobs that will enable citizens to become self-reliant.
“It cannot happen if we don’t work with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to create jobs, generate capital, and foster entrepreneurship.”
He encouraged citizens to engage in agriculture to boost food production.
“We always say that for the economic situation in the country to improve, we must ensure that 90% of our people in South Sudan are productive. Without their productivity, our economy will not improve,” he said.
He added that the conflict in Sudan has also disrupted trade routes in the northern part of South Sudan.
“This is why we are experiencing this economic hardship; the majority of our people are affected by the impact of climate change, which brings floods to the country,” he said.
“You all know, and I think you have all this data, that the Northern states of South Sudan have been dependent on trade with Sudan.”
