SOUTH SUDAN-CRISIS/ NGO CONTROL Aid agencies concerned about new law that limits their terms in South Sudan

Record ID: 154779

  • Title: SOUTH SUDAN-CRISIS/ NGO CONTROL Aid agencies concerned about new law that limits their terms in South Sudan
  • Date: 20th May 2015
  • Summary: GANYIEL, SOUTH SUDAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) AIRPLANE TAKING OFF VARIOUS OF AID WORKERS DROPPING SUPPLIES FROM PLANE FOOD DROPS FOOD AID AT DISTRIBUTION CENTRE WOMEN WAITING IN LINE FOR FOOD RATIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) AIMEE ANSARI, COUNTRY DIRECTOR, CARE INTERNATIONAL, SAYING: "We are very concerned that there are clauses within the bill that might restrict humanitarian access. Clauses around registration for example, clauses around the kind of bank accounts we can have, clauses around our staffing structure and who we can work with are very unclear right now and in some cases appear to be discriminatory against people who are not South Sudanese in the country who might also need humanitarian assistance, like for example the refugees." VARIOUS OF GIRLS DOING LAUNDRY PEOPLE SEATED AT TEA KIOSK KETTLE ON FIRE
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Sudan
  • Country: South Sudan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE4R5YPPSO6QXZMNWXIRYPNCFH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Aid agencies in South Sudan have expressed concern over a proposed law that limits the number of foreign aid workers that can work in the country.
    The law, which is awaiting President Salva Kiir's signature after being passed on Tuesday (May 12), requires non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to limit foreign employees, including those at senior level, to one fifth of their staff in the country.
    "We are very concerned that there are clauses within the bill that might restrict humanitarian access. Clauses around registration for example, clauses around the kind of bank accounts we can have, clauses around our staffing structure and who we can work with are very unclear right now and in some cases appear to be discriminatory against people who are not South Sudanese in the country who might also need humanitarian assistance, like for example the refugees," said Aimee Ansari, the country director, at Care International, in South Sudan.
    More than 1.5 million people have been uprooted inside South Sudan and 500,000 have fled to neighboring countries since fighting broke out in December 2013 between forces loyal to Kiir and fighters allied to his sacked deputy, Riek Machar.
    Four years after South Sudan declared independence from Sudan, the world's newest state faces huge challenges.
    The literacy rate is only 27 percent, and only 30 percent of children aged between six and 17 have ever set foot in a classroom, according to U.N. figures.
    South Sudan has defended the law despite complaints from relief groups, saying it adheres to international standards.
    Onyoti Adiku, is a member of parliament in the country.
    "There are times when you as an NGO you need to submit to the regulations and laws of a particular country. So we don't how but if you leave it on one side to have control then this is where there is a problem. That's why I say there is a need, if the control is brought by the executive with the help of parliament so that it of a shared responsibility because if the executive is not doing well then parliament will rescue the situation," he said.
    The South Sudan NGO Forum said in a statement that if the bill is implemented in a way that creates a more regressive environment, then this will have potentially catastrophic effects for the large amounts of the South Sudanese population that rely on NGOs to provide basic services and life saving aid.
    The turn of events is not encouraging for Asunta Adeng, the founder of God's house of grace foundation.
    The 23-year-old South Sudanese American is in the country to start her organization that wants to help keep girls in school and help them have easy access to sanitary towels.
    Schooling is poor across the board in South Sudan, an overwhelmingly rural region. There is only one teacher for every 1,000 primary school students and 85 percent of adults do not know how to read or write.
    The UN educational and cultural organization UNESCO estimates that nine out of 10 women are illiterate.
    Adeng is a beneficiary of the U.S. refugee resettlement program which saw over 3,000 "Lost boys" and 89 "Lost girls" airlifted from South Sudan.
    Many of them had been orphaned during Sudan's 1983-2005 south-north war, or had lost close relatives at the time.
    Today a number are returning home to help in South Sudan's development.
    "For somebody to allocate when you can help, how you can help, what money you should have in your account, you know to have an idea and not be supported by your government is discouraging. So hopefully it doesn't discourage me too much to a point where I just say -- forget it, because my heart is deeply in this project and I don't want to be discouraged by the government of South Sudan from helping my people," said Adeng.
    About 2.5 million South Sudanese do not have enough to eat and more than 4 million need water and sanitation.
    The U.N. has a 10,000 strong peacekeeping force which is trying to stop the violence spilling into the camps, where humanitarian workers run schools and clinics.
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