Amb. Deike Potzel, Director General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilization, Peace Building and Humanitarian Assistant at the German Federal Office. Feb 5, 2025. (Photo: Wol Mapal/Eye Radio).

The German Embassy in Juba in partnership with the UN food agency, WFP in South Sudan pledged  to continue providing humanitarian assistance to needy populations including Sudanese refugees but said the government needs to shoulder responsibility.

The diplomatic mission alongside WFP highlighted the impact of Germany’s support in conflict and climate-affected areas in South Sudan following a four-day visit to Upper Nile State to assess the humanitarian situation.

Upon their return to Juba on Wednesday, Amb. Deike Potzel, Director General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilization, Peace Building and Humanitarian Assistant at the German Federal Office, described the humanitarian situation in Renk and Malakal in Upper Nile State, as dire and needing serious intervention.

Amb. Potzel however, assured German support for South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees in terms of humanitarian assistance.

“While we stand ready to support South Sudanese people, we also urge the government to take full responsibility for humanitarian and the people in it, accountability is essential in this regard and it is important we join hands all together, the humanitarian, the development agencies and the peace actors to join efforts with government and local authorities to understand the need of the people.”

Germany has been the second-largest bilateral donor in South Sudan and has contributed so far – committing nearly Euro 250 million alone to life-saving and life-transformative work in South Sudan.

The German contribution is part of their enduring solidarity with South Sudanese since independence in easing the impact of conflict, climate change, hunger, and displacement.

On her part, WFP Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation, Ms Rania Dagash Kamara, applauded the German partnership with the World Food Program in providing support the humanitarian assistance in the country.

Dagash also commended South Sudanese in what she terms as their “generosity” for hosting the Sudanese refugees despite the hardships.

“Accommodating a million of people who have crossed a border, even as returnees or refugees in a time when we know many of them are vulnerable and need assistance themselves, is nothing short of commendable and truly signals that humanity is a link between the communities.

“So, it is a great appreciation from us the World Food Program to the people of South Sudan.”

Over a million Sudanese refugees are distributed in South Sudan-majority of whom are women, children and elderly.