President Salva Kiir assures visiting UN delegation of his administration’s readiness to support humanitarian partners in reaching vulnerable communities across the country

By Aguok Chok

President Salva Kiir has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to guaranteeing full humanitarian access across the country during a high-level meeting with Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

The meeting focused on the current humanitarian situation in South Sudan, where thousands of people continue to face displacement, flooding, and food insecurity.

According to an official statement, President Kiir assured the visiting UN delegation of his administration’s readiness to support humanitarian partners in reaching vulnerable communities across the country.

“President Salva Kiir Mayardit has assured the UN delegation of his government’s commitment to ensuring that humanitarian agencies have unhindered access to all affected areas nationwide.”

During the discussions, the President emphasized the importance of coordination between the government and humanitarian actors to ensure that urgent assistance reaches those most in need.

He stressed that the well-being of displaced and flood-affected populations remains a top priority for his administration.

Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator welcomed the President’s assurances and described the engagement as positive and forward-looking.

“Fletcher welcomed the commitment, describing the meeting as constructive and aimed at addressing both national and regional issues.”

He further underscored the significance of unrestricted humanitarian operations in responding to growing needs across different parts of the country.

“He said that the President reiterated his government’s willingness to ensure that humanitarian agencies have unrestricted activities in the country, a move he said is crucial in ensuring that urgent aid reaches displaced and flood-affected communities.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak, who also attended the meeting, highlighted the President’s directive to strengthen collaboration with humanitarian organizations.

Akol confirmed that the President had instructed the Ministry to improve coordination with UN agencies and humanitarian actors to respond to the current situation.”

Fletcher’s visit to South Sudan forms part of broader efforts by the United Nations to mobilize greater international attention and support for the country’s humanitarian response. With needs rising in several regions due to conflict, climate-related disasters, and economic hardship, humanitarian agencies continue to call for increased funding and improved access.

Fletcher is in South Sudan as part of the efforts to draw more international attention and support to the country’s humanitarian response as needs continue to rise in different regions.

The UN Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, on his five-day official tour of the country, has encountered what the global body describes as ‘an escalation of conflict amid rising protection risks for civilians and aid workers, with three humanitarian personnel killed between 7 and 16 February in Jonglei and Upper Nile states,

Meanwhile, access to some worst-affected areas remains difficult despite calls by authorities to allow relief operations.

“So here in South Sudan, you have this perfect storm of climate change and conflict and inequality and poverty. Right now, people here in South Sudan feel that no one is listening,” Fletcher said upon arrival in Juba.

The visit comes just days after clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the rival Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-iO), triggered large-scale displacement across central and northern Jonglei.

So far, nearly 280,000 people have fled their homes across eight counties, with many moving into Upper Nile and Lakes states.

At the height of the humanitarian hurdles, a new threat is marching- cholera, with some 106 new cases and three deaths reported across five counties between February 11 and 17.

As humanitarian needs remain high, the renewed commitment by the government to facilitate relief operations is expected to strengthen cooperation with international partners and improve the delivery of essential services to vulnerable populations across South Sudan

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“President Salva Kiir Mayardit has assured the UN delegation of his government’s commitment to ensuring that humanitarian agencies have unhindered access to all affected areas nationwide,” an official statement from the President’s press noted.