Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The SSP 60 billion set aside for flood mitigation is not enough, says Michael Makuei, the Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services.
Instead, Makuei is now appealing to “well-wishers” to channel more funds to mitigate the impacts of floods in South Sudan.
The government had set aside $10 million (approximately 6 billion SSP) for flood mitigation and to champion the national plan of allowing the people to adapt to the situation instead of moving them to higher grounds.
Makuei however said friends of South Sudan had pledged $100 million for flood mitigation, which he said would not be enough to address the challenge, and thus called for more support.
“This policy of adaptation is one of the major policies that we are following. I believe that the one hundred million, which was pledged for addressing climate change, will not be enough and will not be in a position to solve this problem, “Makuei said.
“Here in Africa, we are the most affected…therefore, we would definitely ask the advanced countries to increase that pledge so that we can use it for adaptation because we will not be in a position to move further than that. “
The report of the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released in September 2022 stated that Unity, Jonglei, and Central Equatoria states topped the chart of the states in dire need of humanitarian aid across the country.
The City Review reported that there were 39 recorded cases of blocked humanitarian access, with 24 incidences involving violence or threats to humanitarian workers.
“Jonglei Unity and Central Equatoria states accounted for 69 per cent of all reported incidents, including a notable increase of incidents against humanitarian personnel,” the statement partly read.
In July, a Canada-based researcher, professor Tag Elkhazin, said that floods did not need dredging in order for them to be mitigated.
He warned against dredging and digging of the Jonglei Canal, saying it would drain water to Egypt and might pose an environmental hazard to the local communities living along the Sudd Wetlands.
Professor Tag stated that the best solutions would be the digging of dams to contain water and the digging of haffirs (small dams) to contain rain water instead of dredging of digging of Jonglei Canal.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
