YAMBIO, South Sudan – 18 August (UNHCR) – Last week, the UN Refugee Agency handed over two projects for the host community of Western Equatoria and announced further cooperation with state and local authorities.
On 13 August, UNHCR together with Acting Governor Clement Juma Mbugoniwia and State Minister of Education Phillip Pia inaugurated two primary schools in Yabua and Nabagu, located in Nzara and Yambio counties respectively. A day before, two vehicles were donated to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Local Government and Local Enforcement in Yambio.
These interventions are part of UNHCR's engagement with state and local authorities to promote peaceful coexistence between the refugee and host communities, including through improving existing services and public facilities. "We wish to reciprocate the generosity of the host community for welcoming and accepting over 9,000 refugees on their soil", says UNHCR Representative Ahmed Warsame.
Worth USD 300,000, the school project included the construction of eleven new classrooms and renovation of another four, in addition to the construction of boy and girls latrines. Eight classrooms were built in Nabagu Primary School and four others in Yabua Primary School. "In the coming months, we will furnish the schools with desks for teachers and students", says Warsame. "We hope that such these interventions will provide a secure and conducive learning environment to the many pupils who had previously learned under mango trees."
The donation of vehicles aims at enhancing the capacity of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Local Government. "It is a small token of gratitude to help the authorities supervise and coordinate key activities such as education and law enforcement in a state that has been hosting refugees for many years."
In a meeting with the Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria, Sapana Abui, UNHCR reiterated its commitment to rehabilitate the Yambio-Ezo road. "A memorandum of understanding with the State Ministry of Infrastructure is underway to enable us to kick off another major initiative for host community support."
South Sudan, Africa's youngest country, is currently host to more than 265,000 refugees.
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