The South Sudan Red Cross Jonglei State Branch Director, David Gai Deer, resigned from his position on February 12. Deer said he was frustrated by the the organisation’s inability to serve the vulnerable people in the state.

“If you see things are not moving in the way they should move, then it becomes difficult for somebody like me,” Deer said. He added that he could no longer be seen “doing nothing” and therefore he resigned.

On Tuesday, February 21, the Secretary General of the South Sudan Red Cross, John Lobor, informed stakeholders in a circular about Deer’s resignation, adding that “the management on the 20th of February accepted his resignation”.

According to the circular “David’s last working day for the South Sudan Red Cross will be the 28th of February 2017”. Deer said he served the South Sudan Red Cross as Jonglei State Branch Director for seven years.

The South Sudan Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation, part of the worldwide network of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies – responding to emergencies, providing health services and promoting social inclusion.

South Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war since December 2013, and on Monday, February 20, the United Nations has declared a famine in parts of the country, adding to an already dire humanitarian situation.

Populations in Jonglei State are facing “crisis” levels of food insecurity, and in Ayod County alone, an estimated 85,000 people are in immediate need of food assistance, according to a World Food Programme (WFP) rapid needs assessment.

Photo: David Gai Deer, during an interview in Bor, February 20, 2017. (© Radio Tamazuj)