Japan to equip Civil Defence with fire truck
The Central Equatoria Civil Defence has signed a grant deal worth $75,814 with the Japanese government for the purchase of a fire truck to be based in the capital, Juba.
This will add to the existing two ill-conditioned trucks that will help firefighters to deal with fire outbreaks and enhance security within and on the outskirts of Juba City.
The deal was signed on behalf of South Sudan’s government on Tuesday by The Director of Civil Defence in Central Equatoria State, Maj. Gen. Pascal Ladu Matias commended the government and the people of Japan for supporting South Sudan.
However, Ladu said there were only two functional fire engines in the whole of Juba City adding that there was still a need for more trucks to beef up response to fire incidents.
“This grant in form of the fire truck is coming at the right time when we are very much in need of it,” Ladu said “This will add value to the service that we deliver to the people of Juba.”
“As I talk now, there is still a huge gap for the equipment in South Sudan, and we are looking for more cooperation and support in the field of fire safety,” he added.
One of the current two trucks was a donation by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), but it experiences technical faults that cannot be corrected, said Ladu.
He said when the truck is delivered soon; it will be stationed at the Seventh Day, the Central Equatoria State’s Civil Defence main station.
“Juba City is very large and is also expanding upwards with this fire truck. I am sure it will add value, but we need even more than this. At least Juba should have a minimum of 10 trucks, but unfortunately, we do not have it,” Ladu said.
The Japanese Ambassador, Tsutsumi Naohiro, promised his government’s continued support for security through its technology to help the people and government of South Sudan.
Amb. Naohiro said besides the insecurity, communal violence, ambushes, and floods, remain one of the security threats still troubling the people.
“I hear that there are only two fire engines in Juba City Fire Department now,” Naohiro said. “Japan Embassy, representing the entire Japanese people, has been working very hard to ensure South Sudan’s effort for durable peace and nation-building. Our important motivation to do so is to pursue ‘human security.”
Naohiro added that the Japanese government needed an environment where every single person would be allowed to live a safe and dignified life.
“I am sure that saving people’s lives in this way is part of endeavours to ensure security for all South Sudanese people,” he said.
Early this month, a fire claimed a life of an infant and destroyed more than 50 houses in Gumbo, Juba suburb, before the firefighters arrived at the scene.
Japan has been one of South Sudan’s best friends and biggest donor countries since independence in 2011. Japan, through its international cooperation agency JICA, has undertaken several technical projects in the country.
These include the construction of the Freedom Bridge on the Revie Nile, Water Supply Cooperation both expected to be completed by 2022 as well as solid waste management project within the Juba City.
