The Eritrean Business community has provided a cheque worth 100 million South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) to support evacuation of returnees and refugees fleeing war in neighboring Sudan.
“Today, I am here representing Eritrean Businesses Community in their efforts to support the initiative led by office of the First Lady Mama Ayen Mayardit with the purpose of assisting returnees and refugees displaced by the conflict in neighboring Sudan,” Asmerom Neamen, the executive director for Eritrean business community told journalists in Juba on Thursday.
The ceremony took place at Pyramid Hotel.
Neamen said the Eritrean business community believes that challenges are better addressed when all stake-holders including private sector play their role.
Deng Dau Deng, the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the war in Sudan has inflicted suffering to the vulnerable population.
He said the contribution of the Eritrean business community will help alleviate the suffering.
“This is a very significant activity that a business person can think about, the plight of people who are suffering, whatever little money that you got from any small business you undertake it is always good to support the needy,” Deng said.
“Currently in Khartoum people are leaving in big numbers, people are under bombardment, under difficulty, this contribution will be helping 4000 to 5000 families, this money means a lot, it will evacuate about 20 trucks,” he added.
Akoch Akuei, the Team Leader for Citizens Call for Emergency Evacuation, said the process of evacuation from Sudan is fully supported by the people and the government.
“The process of which we are evacuating people from Sudan is supported by people of South Sudan and the government, the first lady mama Mary Ayen joined us as citizen call, this process now has so far helped over 5000 people,” Akuei said.
He said there are nearly 90,000 South Sudanese currently in Renk, adding that the small town is overwhelmed by the high number of arrivals across the border.
