WFP REGIONAL DIRECTOR DISCUSSES AREAS OF COOPERATION WITH MINISTER DIER

Monday, May 15th 2023, Juba

Communication Department-MoFP

The Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Dier Tong Ngor received the visiting World Food Program Regional Director for Eastern Africa, Michael Dunford who is on a three days official visit to South Sudan.

The meeting discussed challenges facing the work of WFP in the country and means of capitalizing on prevailing opportunities to boost distribution of food supply to the vulnerable people.

Last week, South Sudan government through the Ministry of Finance and Planning signed a 15 million USD multilateral cooperation agreement with UN World Food Program from the IMF funds to boost school feeding program and increase food supply in the country. The visiting WFP official commended the gesture and described it as the first of its kind and urged the government to keep up the great spirit of cooperation.

Mr. Dunford who was accompanied by the WFP country Director, Mary Ellen McGroarty raised concerns over Sudan’s raging conflict and feared its implication on South Sudan’s economy. The WFP official urged the government of South Sudan to prioritize strategies that secures and guarantees food sufficiency to prevent shortage in food supply.

The visiting World Food Program regional director is expected to travel to Renk and Bor towns to assess humanitarian situation of returnees and displaced persons and evaluate WFP funded projects in those areas.