UNHCR Donates Vehicles and Beddings to South Sudan Ministry of Health
IRC Delegates pose in front of the newly donated ambulances during its official hand over on May 6, 2020. The five ambulances were donated by the UNHCR, South Sudan (Photo credit: Robert Elema)
May 16, 2020(SSNN) — In response to combat Coronavirus in South Sudan, the United Nations High Commissioner for the Refugees(UNHCR) has handed over at least three vehicles and beddings to South Sudan Ministry of Health.
According to the Assistant External Relations Officer, Gift Friday Noah, of the UNHCR in South Sudan, the refugee agency in the world’s youngest nation has delivered two ambulances to Juba Teaching Hospital, one Toyota Pickup to Yambio Hospital and another Toyota Pickup to Yei Hospitals.
“As part of the joint fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the country, UNHRC South Sudan under the auspices of Mr. Adan Ilmi, UNHCR’s Country Representative will tomorrow Friday 15th May 2020 be donating to the Ministry of Health the following: – Two (2) ambulances for Juba Teaching Hospital, One (1) Toyota Pickup each for Yambio and Yei Hospitals respectively” Gift Friday Noah said in a statement on Thursday, May 14, 2020.
The Assistant External Relations Officer also confirmed that the UNHCR has given out beddings, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other WASH items to Al Sabah Children Hospital in the capital, Juba.
The event was attended by the UNHCR’s Country Representative Adan Ilmi, Hon. Elizabeth Achuei, Minister of Health, Lt. Gen. Bol John, the Commissioner for Refugees Affairs, Dr Manase Lomole Waya, RRC Chairperson, Mr. Elisama Wani Daniel, ACROSS- Executive Director, Director General of Juba Teaching Hospital and Director General for Al Sabah Children Hospital, amongst others.
South Sudan, a country which gained her independence barely 9 years ago, has spent the last 7 years in brutal civil wars that fit South Sudanese among themselves along ethnic lines.
While the president, Mr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, is a Dinka by ethnicity, his deputies – two from the same tribe, two others from the Nuer tribe and one from the Madi tribe – have very little control on the national affairs.
For the last 15 years the former rebel elites have focused more on resource grabbing, which fueled the conflicts, and less on development.
A Taskforce which was formed initially to fight the spread of the virus had to be dismantled yesterday with hopes to reflect the realities in the country, however, the newly formed Taskforce reflects ethnicity more than the collective interest to fight the pandemic.
The virus has taken its toll with 235 confirmed cases, four deaths and four recoveries.
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