South Sudan still in battle against water crisis
As the world celebrates World Water Day to ponder ways of improving access to clean water, South Sudan remains far from achieving the goal.
Over half of the estimated 13 million people still lack adequate access to clean water for domestic and economic purposes.
Constant conflicts dating back to the 2013 civil war destroyed the country’s water system, leading to a water crisis with the majority, especially within the capital, Juba, drinking unsafe raw water directly drawn from the River Nile.
As a result, this has increased the risk of contracting waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea or parasites that account for one in nine child deaths worldwide, killing at least 2,000 children globally.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MOWRI) also pointed out that due to war, the government could not meet its target of providing safe and clean drinking water to the majority of the country’s population by this time.
“Just only 40 per cent of our people have access to safe and clean drinking water, which is behind our target as part of the South Sudan Urban Water Cooperation strategic plan,’’ said the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Manawa Peter Gatkoch, in late 2021. He added, “We should have at least this time provided water to more than 75 per cent of our population to drink safe and clean water.”
He assured the citizens, saying, “the government’s commitment is that after we finish phase one of the project, we will avail the necessary funds to support the urban water cooperation to operate and to continue providing services to the people of South Sudan.”
The South Sudan Urban Water Cooperation—the government’s organisation in charge of clean water supply to urban dwellers, supported by the Japanese government—has been doing its best to provide safe, clean water to the citizens, but at a very minimum.
Higher prices
Citizens largely rely on water trucks, marked ‘clean drinking water’, which supply unclean and semi-clean water to Juba residents expensively.
A drum of untreated water from the Nile costs between SSP1500 and SSP1600, and the price is determined by the citizen’s proximity to the river. People have been complaining about the exorbitant prices.
Reaction to climate change will now mean a lot to South Sudan because it calls for the prevention of the adverse water crisis that has affected more than half of its population by proposing water pumps, wells, and reservoirs in cities.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), South Sudan’s clean water project that was to supply water to more than 400, 000 Juba dwellers by 2016, was interrupted by conflict.
The project has been resurrected by the agency, and it is expected to supply households, government institutions, and businesses by early next year.
“In addition, the government of Japan and JICA are extending the grant aid project for the construction of a new water supply system in Juba City, which is expected to be completed in 2023.
“This new plant will contribute to the clean water supply to 400, 000 population in Juba City,” said JICA Chief Representative, Fuyuki Sagara, in a statement to mark World Water Day.
Mr. Sagara emphasised the importance of clean water, saying: “At the same time, water supply is an essential social service that government should secure for the people,” while hoping the government would take a firm initiative to allocate the necessary budget for proper operation and maintenance of water supply in the country.
