News from Berlin

GIZ and BMZ Support South Sudanese Population After Ceasefire

May 12th, 2014
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News from Berlin - The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) is supporting the population on the ground in South Sudan after a one-month ceasefire was agreed on between the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar. A team of experts has been sent to the country of behalf to the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Their job is to reduce the hardship of South Sudanese refugees and to support the local population, for example by dispensing seeds and agricultural equipment and by constructing hygiene facilities.

GIZ is continuing its work in the country, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011 following over 20 years of violence throughout the Second Sudanese Civil War. Due to ongoing conflict, there are now over one million refugees in the country, and the local population is in critical need of assistance and aid. Acting on behalf of the German Government, GIZ has actively been involved in the region for the past decade, working to improve the water supply and establishing roads and schools. GIZ is also helping to improve food security by implementing rural development ventures.

After the signing of the peace agreement between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the Government of Sudan in 2005, official bilateral development cooperation was resumed with southern Sudan in 2006, and intensified after South Sudanese independence in 2011. The priority areas for German assistance in the country are urban water supply and support for administrative reform and decentralization. Existing trial initiatives on food security will also be expanded in the future to become a third priority area.

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