(From left): Undersecretary of Finance Kuol Daniel and IOM head of operations in South Sudan sign an MoU under which South Sudan donated 5 millions to IOM for its humanitarian activities. | Photo: Obaj Okuj/Eye Radio

South Sudan government on Friday donated 5 million US dollars to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support its humanitarian programs in the country.

The financial support was announced by the Ministry of Finance and Planning in Juba on June 23.

According to the deal, IOM will support nearly 40,000 vulnerable individuals, including returnees who fled the war in Sudan, and conflict-affected internally displaced persons.

The donation is part of the 115 million US-dollar grant that the South Sudan’s government acquired from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s staff monitory program.

Kuol Daniel Ayulo, the First Undersecretary for Finance at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning said the agreement will bolster Emergency Financial Support to South Sudanese.

Undersecretary Daniel signed the agreement on behalf of the government.

“We are signing this small agreement in support of the emergency finance support to South Sudanese under the IOM food shocks window,” he said.

“It is the little contribution that we are here to do in regard to supporting our people who are suffering from the situation unfolding in the neighboring country.”

The assistance will include a one-time voucher and cash assistance for transportation of the returnees from border areas, multipurpose cash assistance, and in-kind assistance, including shelter and hygiene support.

Meanwhile, the Head of Operation of the International Organization for Migration, Muhammad Asar, who signed the agreement on behalf of IOM, said they are grateful for the government donation.

“This is the first time we have signed the agreement and the first kind of project we are signing in its magnitude with the government of South Sudan, and we are grateful that you choose IOM as your partner to deliver this activity.”

In March 2023, the government, through the Ministry of Finance and Planning, donate 15 million to the World Food Program to support its School Feeding Program.