Turkish government’s financial support to South Sudan since independence in 2011 has been confirmed to total 10 million U.S dollars.
Erdem Mutaf, Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan revealed this on Thursday while meeting Journalists at the Turkish Embassy in Juba during celebration to mark the end of 2022.
He disclosed that this assistance has been in form of humanitarian, disaster relief assistance and capacity building provided by different Turkish agencies in South Sudan.
“Our bilateral ties have multi-faceted aspects of political, economic, consular, education, cultural nature; our development agencies are very active across the country,” said Mutaf.
Mutaf said the Turkish Embassy is equipped with diverse departments of Trade Office and Consular Section, adding that it is the only foreign embassy that issues visas to the public.
He said that Turkiye and South Sudan enjoy very fraternal bilateral relations that are based on close historical and cultural ties.
“The Turkish Embassy has been serving in Juba for 11 years without interruption even during the civil wars, Turkiye is one of the first countries that recognized the Republic of South Sudan following the proclamation of independence,” said Mutaf.
He revealed that the existing bilateral ties between the two countries are on basis of equal partnership.
Mutaf said the Turkish government has three development agencies operating in South Sudan that include, Turkish Red Crescent, TIKA and Turkish Maarif Foundation.
“Turkish Red Crescent and TIKA have been serving in South Sudan for years. Maarif Foundation is a new one, working to set up their first international school in Juba,” he said.
“Tukiye is the first country to give capacity support to Juba Teaching Hospital in 2007,” added Mutaf.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has carried out a range of humanitarian activities in South Sudan, including renovating and upgrading equipment at schools and orphanages, empowering women through training, Medical equipment and food distribution drives that covered thousands of people.
KIZILAY (Turkish Red Crescent): The Turkish Red Crescent South Sudan Delegation Office, which has been operating out of the capital Juba since 2017, has been assisting people mainly through providing water, sanitation and hygiene services, food distribution, hygienic material distribution, and capacity-building activities.
