PWRDF Launches $400,000 Food Project in South Sudan

Over the next few months, PWRDF, with Finn Church Aid (FCA) and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) will support over 10,000 people who have been forced to flee their homes by the violence in South Sudan.  The program in rural communities in Mundri County, Western Equaotria state of South Sudan will primarily support vulnerable women and children. A large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have settled in Mundri County after fleeing the recent fighting in Juba, Bor and Malaki.

The 10,028 IDPs supported by the project during the next 3 months will have 2 full meals each day. Each individual will receive: 7 kg of maize flour, 1.3kg of beans, 350 ml of cooking oil, 200g of sugar, and 100g of salt per month for 3 months. They have already planted crops, but need this food to tide them over until their crops are ready to harvest.  The food provided by PWRDF will ensure they are healthy and have enough energy to care for their crops and to work on projects for the community.

Those who are able to work will repair and improve community infrastructure including local water points, a bridge, a health care centre, and a compound in Amadi where some IDPs are being hosted.

The two meals a day will also help children to stay in school and to be able to focus more on their school work. It will also help nursing mothers and their babies to fare better.

In addition, some or all of the 12 currently idle bore holes (small wells) in the host communities will be tested and, where possible, repaired.  Access to safe drinking water will help prevent the spread of water-borne diseases and conflicts between people over the scarcity of water, and children will no longer have to walk long distances to bring water home for their families.

By working with CFGB, PWRDF is able to access 4:1 matching funds from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD), enabling PWRDF’s $80,000 contribution to do $400,000 of work.