Category: Humanitarian

R-TNLA spokesperson fumes over MP Tong’s $15K health allowance donation

The Chairperson of the Specialized Committee of Information in the National Legislature has criticized his colleague Deng Tong Kuol who donated his medical allowance to his community.

John Agany hails from the same area as lawmaker Tong.

On Tuesday, Tong, a national lawmaker representing Aweil North County in the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, donated his 15,000 US dollar – medical allowance to flood-affected victims.

The medical allowances, approved by the parliament and disbursed by the finance ministry, have so far received mixed reactions from members of the public.

Some members of the public have commended the lawmaker for the gesture of generosity.

But Parliament spokesperson John Agany criticized the move saying generous Tong acted outside the August House business code of Conduct.

“He does not even know the conduct of business and he is by the way claiming to be a lawyer. I describe it as one way of blindfolding the public in his donation of the money.”

“If I were to take fifteen thousand US dollars and give it to my Payam which is constituted to be less than seventy thousand inhabitants, what help does it do to my people? Will it build a school? Will it build a road? Will it build even the Payam headquarters,” Agany asked.

The medical allowance was disbursed last week barely two months after the national legislature passed a SSP 1.4 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2022/2023.

USAID provides humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in Upper Nile

The United States Agency for International Development says it is assisting internally displaced persons who fled violence in Tonga and Panyikang areas in Upper Nile with food and non-food items.

In a post on its official social media page Wednesday, USAID says that the recent fighting between armed groups in Tonga and Panyikang County in Upper Nile has displaced tens of thousands of civilians from the areas.

“We’re assisting IDPs with shelter, food, medicine & water, sanitation & hygiene,” the statement read.

According to USAID, with about 50,000 internally displaced persons in the PoC site there, overcrowding exacerbates disease outbreak risks.

The agency said its team visited Malakal to monitor humanitarian assistance in and around the protection site in the area.

Its statement comes a day after the U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan said he was in Malakal town last Thursday, where he met with residents, USAID implementing partners, and UNMISS personnel.

Ambassador Adler also visited medical facilities and a food warehouse supported by U.S. assistance.

The Ambassador also visited sites where victims of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence receive assistance and are learning income-generating skills.

During his visit, Adler discussed efforts to provide aid to those displaced by severe subnational violence in Upper Nile and the sustained multi-year flooding.

In a statement sent to Eye Radio newsroom, the U.S diplomat also called on the government of South Sudan to improve the security conditions in Upper Nile state.

The restive state has experienced a series of violence, particularly in Malakal, Panykang, and Fashoda Counties allegedly perpetrated by militias believed to be loyal to General Simon Gatwech.

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