The Turkish Embassy in South Sudan on Tuesday distributed food packages to 500 families who recently fled the conflict in Sudan.
Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan Erdem Mutaf handed over the donation, which included cooking oil, beans, rice, sugar, and maize flour, to the Chollo (Shilluk) Community in the Gudele suburb of Juba.
Addressing the gathering during the handover ceremony, Ambassador Mutaf said the assistance symbolizes Turkish solidarity with the people of the Chollo Kingdom who recently fled Sudan violence.
“I pledged to help the Chollo Community, stating that we are brothers and sisters with the Chollo Community for the last 200 years,” he said. “Since then, we have coordinated with the relevant Turkish authorities, including the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority to provide food to Chollo returnees in Juba. And in due course, today we plan to support 500 families, returnees living in this area.”
For his part, Onyoti Adigo Nyikec, the Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries, thanked the Turkish Ambassador for the great support rendered to the people of Chollo Kingdom.
“It is a good occasion today. With the help of Turkey, I think these people will now be able to do something and have something to eat,” he stated. “As he (ambassador) mentioned, the relationship between the Kingdom of Chollo and Turkey goes back to 1680 something.”
Meanwhile, James Amum, the Paramount Chief of the Chollo Kingdom in the Gudele resident area, also lauded the Turkish Embassy for supporting his people.
“I would like to thank the Turkish Ambassador for coming here, we are delighted with the food they have provided to the vulnerable people who came from Khartoum and we appreciate them for standing with these people,” Amum said.
Since 15 April 2023, Sudan has been plagued by a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has resulted in at least 16,650 deaths and the displacement of millions of people. The war in Sudan has forced more than 240,000 South Sudanese to return and Sudanese to flee to South Sudan.