The government of South Sudan has secured a USD106 million (Sh10.6 billion) grant from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, part of which will be spent in buying food for famine-hit citizens and constructing a road linking Juba and Kenya.
Residents in parts of the war-damaged country are staring at starvation following crop failures due to prolonged drought, Finance Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau told Reuters.
An unending drought and a civil war pitting President Salva Kiir Mayardit and former Vice President Riek Machar has driven millions out of their homes with Africa’s youngest nation reaching out to the international community for humanitarian aid.
South Sudan’s food imports mainly emanate from neighbouring Uganda.
Of the Sh106 billion, USD50 million (Sh5 billion) will finance the purchase of food items Mr Dau said while USD8 million (Sh800 million) will fund the construction of the road linking Juba and Kenya.
The African Development Bank on the other hand will disburse USD48 million (Sh4.8 billion) to boost the economy emerging from a recession.
South Sudan, since 2013, has been at war with militia groups supporting Machar fighting President Kiir’s government.
Conflict began after President Kiir sacked his entire cabinet including Machar.
The development triggered fighting forcing Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, the wife of the country’s first President the late John Garang into exile.
The instability negatively affected oil production with inflation shooting through the ceiling.
[South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit. He has secured a funding deal that will see famine-hit citizens in North East helped.] plaidervenger.com