Little has been done in implementing water policies that were put in place 9 years ago, a senior official at the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has said.
The Director General, Peter Mahal, says they developed water policies in 2006 and approved them in 2007, along with plans on water quality framework and rural and urban investment.
These policies were meant to ensure that the whole country gets access to clean drinking water by 2018.
However, Mr Mahal says only 41% of people in the country are now having access to water due to the conflict.
That means “we are behind the millennium development goals, and now we have to catch up”.
“We need to review all these strategies and align them with South Sudan Vision 2040 so that they match,” Mr Mahal told Eye Radio ahead of the (South Sudanized) Global handwashing Day.
The day is marked on 15 October every year. But according to the ministry officials, it will be commemorated on 24 October. It’s not clear why.
The Vision 2040 Millennium Development Plans is a wide strategic document on security, international relations, good governance and service delivery plans for South Sudan.
The Global Hand-washing Day is marked annually to raise awareness on handwashing as part of proper hygiene practices.
This year, the rest of the world marked the day on Saturday but Mahal says South Sudan will mark the day next week.