Closure of UNMIS

UNMIS wound up its operations on 9 July 2011 with the completion of the interim period agreed on by the Government of Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed on 9 January 2005.

The mission ended its six years of mandated operations the same day South Sudan declared independence, following a CPA-provided referendum on 9 January 2011 that voted overwhelmingly in favour of secession.

In support of the new nation, the Security Council established a successor mission to UNMIS – the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – on 9 July for an initial period of one year, with the intention to renew for further periods as required.

GoSS receives $30m water and sanitation grant

2 Mar 2010

GoSS receives $30m water and sanitation grant

When the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signing in 2005, only 27 per cent of Southern Sudanese had access to improved water supply, while 15 per cent had access to basic sanitation.

According to Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Minister for Finance and Economic Planning David Deng Athorbei, today, many people still have to travel miles looking for water.

The World Bank estimates that rural access to safe water is as low as 14 per cent, while access to and appropriate use of sanitation facilities in these areas may be virtually nonexistent.

In February, the World Bank and Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning signed a $30 million grant agreement to improve access to safe water and sanitation services in Southern Sudan.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Laurence Clark, World Bank Manager of the Southern Sudan Programme said, "This project will go a long way to reduce the prevalence of water borne diseases and community clashes over water points."

The safe water component includes the drilling of new and maintenance of existing boreholes as well as the construction of water reservoirs and warehouses for equipment storage.

The sanitation services component involves the construction of public latrines in community schools and health centres and the supply of sanitation and hygiene equipment, including 20 vacuum tankers.

In another effort to save water, Alphones Pitya, Public Health Inspector of Kator Payam in Juba, announced that any homestead found with dripping taps would be penalized 100 SDG ($45).

Mr. Pitya added that although the 2009 slab latrine programme was a success, the government and nongovernmental organisations needed to initiate more slab programmes to meet growing demand.