(BOR) – The Governor of Jonglei State, Dr Riek Ghai Kok, has held high level talks with the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Mr Carl Skau, to explore deeper collaboration in addressing food insecurity and building long term community resilience in flood prone areas of South Sudan.
The meeting which took place over the weekend focused on improving recovery efforts and enhancing resilience across Jonglei State. Discussions included strategies for food security, livelihood support, access to local markets, emergency preparedness and response, disaster risk management, and nutrition interventions.
Governor Riek acknowledged the historical role of the WFP in South Sudan, tracing its support to the era of the liberation struggle. He praised WFP’s continued partnership, especially in Jonglei, where persistent flooding has worsened humanitarian conditions in counties such as Pangak, Twic East, and Duk.
“WFP has stood with us since before independence and continues to be a dependable partner in our development journey,” said Dr Riek. “We are optimistic that a renewed strategic framework will enhance our cooperation and bring lasting benefits to our communities.”
In response, Mr Carl Skau reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to assisting communities affected by natural disasters in Jonglei. He said WFP would scale up support for farmers by providing crop seedlings and strengthening school feeding initiatives to improve child nutrition and school attendance across the state.
“Our goal is to help communities become more resilient, food secure, and self-sustaining,” said Skau. “Through targeted programmes, we can help restore livelihoods and support long term development.”
The two sides also reiterated their commitment to jointly implement the strategic goals agreed between WFP and the Jonglei State government. Officials hope the enhanced collaboration will also contribute to reducing the dependence on emergency relief in the long term.
With large areas of Jonglei State repeatedly hit by floods, the need for better preparedness and local agricultural recovery is urgent. Local authorities and partners believe a shift from short term food assistance to long term resilience building is vital to reduce humanitarian needs and stabilise communities.
| Focus Area | Planned Intervention |
|---|---|
| Flood Affected Areas | Relief support, flood recovery |
| Farmers’ Support | Seedling distribution, farming inputs |
| School Feeding | Expanded programmes across the state |
| Disaster Preparedness | Strengthened early warning and emergency response |
| Food Systems & Markets | Improved market access and community food security |
