World Bank

Newsflash: China to take over JIA in 2022 over unpaid debts

March 15, 2021 The South Sudan

^{Juba International Airport to be taken over by China over unsettled debts | File}

China is now proposing to take over Juba International Airport in the event that the world’s youngest nation, South Sudan, fails to pay off its unsettled debts, which amount to $2.96 billion, according to an internal document obtained by Thessherald.

South Sudan has become one of the latest African countries to fall into Chinese debt-traps after Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Ethiopia.

Latest data obtained from the China-Africa Research Initiative, reveal that China currently owes more than $30.34 billion from developing countries in Africa.

In 2016, the South Sudanese government requested $1.9 billion from China to boost its developmental projects and repair key oilfields ravaged by years of conflict.

According to the World Bank, South Sudan is one of the most oil-dependent countries in the world, with oil accounting for almost the totality of exports, 90% of revenue, and more than one-third of its gross domestic product (GDP).

However, a recent study by Transparency International revealed that South Sudan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, followed by Somalia and Yemen.

UNICEF provides medical services in hard-to-reach areas

March 12, 2020 The South Sudan

UNICEF Team in speedboats /Emmanuel Moja

(Thessherald)–In a joint effort with the World Bank Group, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered medical facilities in Wau-Shillok, one of the remote areas in the country that has experienced insecurity and inadequate health care Services during the conflict.

In a brief statement on Thursday, UNICEF Communications Officer Richard Ruati confirmed the arrival of humanitarian responders in the area.

“As part of the UNICEF South Sudan-World Bank Health Project Partnership Media Mission to Malakal, we to the media to Wau-Shilluk and Owechi towns on the riverbank of the Nile, remote places that are accessible only by speedboats by humanitarians to deliver the much-needed healthcare at the community level targeting children and mothers,” he said.

UNICEF is an international agency responsible for providing services on a humanitarian basis, in a bid to achieve Universal Health Coverage across the global.

It also places great emphasis on children’s needs.