South Sudan’s government on Tuesday opened a coordination office at Juba Airport in order to facilitate movement of humanitarian personnel and cargo into affected areas of South Sudan. The office was opened by the Minister of Health and the head of the World Food Programme.
Speaking to press shortly after the inauguration, Dr Riek Gai, the Minister of Health said the office will mark a new page of the president’s commitment towards peace.
“These people are the people of South Sudan and the service must be delivered without any hindrance – if we are unable to give the services to them, our partners the NGOs are out there are ready to give the service,” the minister added.
Humanitarians had complained that they were often stopped from carrying money and satellite phones into the field. Visa issues traditionally also have caused complications and delays to humanitarian operations in South Sudan, particularly since independence.
“The inauguration of this office today is the declaration of the commitment by our president of giving access to all people of South Sudan. The president has instructed us that humanitarian access should go without hindrance to all those who are in need across the line whether in the areas controlled by the rebels or not,” Gai said.
President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar agreed earlier this month unconditionally to open humanitarian corridors and to cooperate with UN and other agencies to ensure aid reaches affected populations in all areas of South Sudan.
According to the health minister, any hindrance of humanitarian aid access will amount to a crime. He said that the coordination office is fully mandated to send directly their reports to the Office of the President.
Acting Director General in the office, Thomas Tombe Loro, said the office will coordinate between the NGOs in facilitating humanitarian aid to all affected areas across the country.
Tombe added that the office will work as jointly with NGOs under the supervision of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) with a direct report also to the Office of the President.
Officials from RRC, immigration, National Security, military intelligence and representatives from NGOs are members in the office.