Kristina Ortiz, the Director of USAID's Office for Humanitarian Assistance speak commemoration of MYE Project in South Sudan. (Photo: Kafuki Jada/Eye Radio).

An official of the U.S. international development agency has called on the transitional government to invest in communities to help shift their dependence from humanitarian aid to creating their own future.

Kristina Ortiz, the Director of USAID’s Office for Humanitarian Assistance, said the agency’s resilience programs is only a starting point for a brighter South Sudan.

Ms. Ortiz, however, said the unity government must do more to help South Sudanese communities be self-reliant.

According to her, the government should start building reliable infrastructures including good education systems and roads to connect producers to markets and urban areas.

“USAID programs are only a starting point. There is much more the transitional government can do to help communities be self-reliant,” she said.

“For start they can build reliable roads to connect producers to markets and urban areas with the right environment and tools there is no limit to what the communities can achieve.”

“People can start farms to feed their families and neighbors entrepreneurs can establish their businesses and build local markets children can obtain an education,” the official said.

Ms. Ortiz said, with the right environment and tools, there will no limit to what the communities can achieve.

“As long as the transitional government plays an important role, we urge the transitional government to step up and invest in communities so that the South Sudanese people can create their own future.”

The U.S. governments provided $85 million, through the multi-year emergency resilience programs in South Sudan over the past three years.

USAID celebrated some remarkable successes of the project that saw communities rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.