Gov’t promises clean drinking water as JICA beefs up supply

The South Sudan urban water cooperation, with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has pledged to provide clean drinking water for Juba residents.

This came after JICA and South Sudan Urban Water Cooperation signed up for COVID-19 emergency support to the tune of $323,000.

The support included materials and equipment for water supply as well as leakage repairs. There were 126,000 litres of diesel, generators and 107, 000 kilograms of chemicals for water purification.

Speaking during the handover ceremony yesterday, Yar Paul Koul, Managing Director for South Sudan Urban Water Cooperation, said the population in Juba has been at constant risk, especially at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that with the support from JICA, the citizens will now have access to clean drinking water.

 “I want to commit myself and the entire staff that we are going to do our part on how we can sustain water supply.

“We had the issue of the tariff because it is very low. Now we are going to continue selling the water so that the money is used for the sustainability of the water supply for our people, ” Yar said.

On his part, the Water Supply Area Manager for South Sudan Urban Water Cooperation, Joseph Ebere, said that without the support of JICA, they would have discontinued the water supply to urban dwellers in Juba.

“Since 2005 up now, we would have stopped a very long time ago if not because of JICA. We would not be able to supply clean drinking water for our citizens around Juba, ” Ebere said.

He stated that JICA has facilitated their transportation, allowing the staff to travel to the fields to extend the water supply in the residence.

Ebere said the organisation has tirelessly provided them with the necessary materials that kept them working.

Japan International Cooperation Agency, South Sudan, Chief Representative, Sagara Fuyuki, said JICA and the government have come up with COVID-19 measures by providing clean drinking water to the population in Juba.

He said with the provision of clean water, the livelihoods of the citizens would change since water is life.

“Clean drinking water prevents water-borne diseases. The operation of water supply should continue, and the government should provide services to the people, ” he said.

 “By providing services to citizens, this will contribute to their high standard of living in town and rural areas,” Fuyuku added.

Early this month, the Japanese government and the South Sudan government agreed to launch a new technical cooperation project in South Sudan by early 2022 to improve water supply to the citizens.

The project is also meant to build the capacity of the South Sudan Water Urban Cooperation (SSWUC) staff to ensure effective management of water supply, particularly in Juba City.

JICA promised to resume all the projects that had been suspended because of the 2016 conflict.

JICA and the government had signed many deals on water and agricultural projects, including the construction of Freedom Bridge, but they were suspended after the Japanese engineers went back to their country during the conflict. Among them is the solid waste management system under the Juba Clean Project, which will also begin next year.