JUBA –
JUBA – The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday received a US$ 2.5 million contribution from the Government of Japan to help communities in South Sudan adapt to the growing impacts of climate change and recurrent floods.
The fund will benefit 26,000 people, including 20,000 refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees, along with 6,000 members of local host communities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap States.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Juba on Tuesday, Marie-Hélène Verney, the Country Representative for the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that the initiative will help families put food on the table, rebuild their livelihoods, and reduce the risk of further displacement.
“We are grateful to the Government of Japan for its commitment to addressing climate change and recognizing the link between climate-related disasters and forced displacement,” said Verney.
Verney revealed that the collaboration with WFP underscored the importance of international solidarity in tackling the climate crisis and promoting sustainable development in South Sudan.
“This project will provide communities with the means not only to cope with the next flood but also to adapt, recover, and plan for the future,” she said.
For his part, Odagiri Toshio, the Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan, stated that the project represents more than just a financial investment; it is a commitment to building a stronger and more resilient South Sudan.
“The devastating floods that have ravaged parts of South Sudan, affecting hundreds of thousands of people and displacing countless families, highlight the urgent need for immediate and sustained action,” said Toshio.
He added that “Today, we are taking a significant step forward in addressing this urgent challenge by signing this Flood Resilience Project agreement.”
Toshio emphasized that floods continue to destroy homes, wash away crops, kill livestock, and erode people’s ability to survive in South Sudan.
South Sudan is on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
Last year alone, more than 1.4 million people were affected by floods and other climate shocks, with an estimated 380,000 forcibly displaced.
The floods continue to destroy homes, wash away crops, kill livestock, and erode people’s ability to survive.
