South Sudan pledges six initiatives at Global Refugee Forum

South Sudan's Minister of Interior Angelina Teny (Eye Radio photo)

South Sudan has committed to six pledges aimed at enhancing services for refugees and host communities in the country, as announced at the conclusion of the 2023 Global Refugee Forum in Geneva.

The three-day event, attended by over 4,200 participants from 168 countries, received more than 1,600 pledges, surpassing the count from the 2019 forum. Switzerland hosted the forum from December 13 to 14, 2023.

Upon returning to Juba International Airport on Monday, Interior Minister Angelina Teny briefed reporters on the government’s commitments to improve the lives of refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons.

“We have over 400,000 South Sudanese who have returned home from Sudan, and their status is akin to that of refugees, as they arrived with nothing. Our first pledge is to ensure that host communities have access to resources similar to those accessed by refugees and internally displaced persons. This commitment involves not only the South Sudanese government but also international partners,” Angelina explained.

She emphasized the importance of providing access to resources, education, peacebuilding, statehood, addressing climate change, and livelihoods.

“Ensuring access to education and peacebuilding is a key focus of our pledges because we recognize that peace is fundamental to addressing the challenges of forced displacement, whether it’s internal displacement or refugees. Additionally, we are committed to addressing climate change, a critical area that has significantly impacted our people, host communities, and those seeking refuge with us,” she explained.

Albino Akol Atak, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, expressed the country’s commitment to global solidarity for refugee solutions during the Geneva Forum. He highlighted the significance of the second edition of the global refugee forum, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to address refugee-related challenges.

Akol stated, “This year’s forum underscored the importance of the world coming together to address various aspects of refugee issues. These include shelter, food, resettlement, protection, education, health, and other essential services that are fundamental human rights. As the government of South Sudan, our active participation focuses on addressing the challenges faced in the areas where we host refugees.”

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