The Embassy of Japan and the Agency for Humanitarian Aid (AHA), a National Non-governmental Organization, on Monday signed a grant contract for additional budget to move forward and restart the suspended “Project for Sustainable Accessibility to Safe Water and Enhanced Wash Practices in Twic East County, Jonglei State.”
The project has however been moved to Mangalla in Juba County where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Twic East County are currently being hosted due to floods back home.
The project aims to strengthen accessibility to safe water and improve WASH practices of the vulnerable households through the provision of improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and services, according to a statement from the Embassy of Japan.
“Through AHA, the Government of Japan will provide solar powered water supply system as well as promote behavior change on current hygiene and sanitation practices in targeted communities,” the statement read in part. “The project was originally located in Twic East County, Jonglei State but due to the persistent flood situation in the area, the Project had been suspended for a while.”
“From the additional budget signed today (Monday), the project is now able to restart with a new location in Mangalla, Juba, where most of the IDPs from Twic East have moved,” it added.
The Grant Contract for the additional budget was signed by Watanabe Tomoko, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) on behalf of Embassy of Japan, while Yar Martha Anyang, the Executive Director of AHA signed on behalf of the organization.
“The Embassy of Japan is pleased to move the project forward. Many residents of Twic East County in Jonglei State have been displaced and relocated to Mangalla,” Tomoko stated. “We believe that this project will contribute to their livelihoods and the IDPs will be able to obtain the water they need to survive.”
She added: “We also hope that the water supply system will be properly maintained and used with care.”