Radio Miraya

2826: ROUNDTABLE: South Sudan's Declaration of Floods National Disaster

Broadcast on:: 05 Oct 2024
Audio Format:: other

[ Music ] >> The round table. >> Hello and welcome to the round table. My name is Sani Martin. I come into life from Cuba and today we are going to be discussing the floods across the country. That's our topic for today and you'll be allowed to join us later on during our discussion right here. With me, I have already my two guests. The government is expected to declare national disaster in flood affected the states across the country as nearly 1 million people have been affected by the flood. And the flood has affected states like a jungler, up an aisle, a unity, war wrap, northern Baragazal and parts of a bay, including Lake State. And the Council of Ministers during the extraordinary meeting on SARS-DIM, this week unanimously agreed that the president should go ahead and declare a state of national disaster that will allow the government and the partners to mobilize resources needed to support those people who have been displaced by the flood in these affected states. What kind of support is the government looking for to support those who have been affected by these flood in over 30 counties across the country? Those are some of the questions you are going to be discussing right here and if you have been affected by the flood across the country, please don't hesitate to call us later on and be part of our discussion right here. And our lines should be open to you where you can call on 091-206-79, 78-79. The number once again is 091-206-7879 or 091-206-7929. Those are all our lines you can call and be part of our discussion and we shall also be mixing our discussion today in Arabic so that those who are affected can get the message direct from the conson authorities. I am joined right here today by Honorable Albin Akolatak who is the National Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management. You are most welcome to Red Mirror. >> Thank you, Sandy and thank you to Listeners. >> And I also have Ed Monyakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, Sepo. You are most welcome to Red Mirror, Edmond. >> Yeah, thank you, Sonny Martin, for a long and thanks to be the studio to get out Honorable Albin. >> Okay, and we were supposed to have a guest from one of the partners here but up to last evening, we were told that they are all engaged and they will pledge that next time they will be part of this discussion and they say also that they will continue to support the government in whatever way they need to get assistance to those who have been displaced. First of all, Honorable Minister, let's begin with you. You have tabled a request during the extraordinary cabinet meeting that was chaired by the President on Saturday this week, two days ago, and you are requesting your colleagues to support your ideas of asking the President to declare a national disaster on those affected states. First of all, what is the nature of a flood in this country? How bad is it that it makes you now to ask the President to declare a state of a national disaster? >> Thank you, one again, Sonny Martin and all the listeners of Mariah this morning, as you put it, this is a very, very important topics that we have to discuss it now and then. The flood has, I mean, as we have been reporting in this city several times, have really impacted the whole country and impacted the human and the animals together. And this is, of course, is a result of, I mean, water coming from Uganda and the abnormal rain that has been, I mean, happening in South Sudan. This now has caused the, I mean, all the country to be affected, all states with the severity in some states, at least six states, will start with the young lay, unity state, up and now, war up, northern Bargazal and central Uquatoria. And of course, this is a severely affected state. Also, you get lakes, the state is also affected and western Bargazal is affected. Even eastern Uquatoria is affected mainly in La Fone area and western Bargazal, I mean, western Uquatoria. So, you can say, the whole country is affected. The difference now is the severity from state to another state. You also recall, Sonny Martin, that in July, together with our partners, we developed a response plan when we had anticipated this flood. And this response plan was stable in the Council of Minices and the Council of Minices, Unimidency, also approved it. And that approval entails three main approvals. One is to approve the plan. Number two is to approve a fund for responding from the government, which I always reported here, to be 76 million U.S. dollar equivalent in ISP. And the third is to use the memo that I have presented the other day to declare national disaster when the time comes. This is before three months. Now, currently, let's say, from the first of October, the situation has now wasn't. The states that we have mentioned has already been affected. Now we confirm that the severity of this flood occurred in about 38 counties. When we say severity, it means that that is a disastrous one. But the other countries are also affected. But 38 has now been affected heavily. And this flood has actually displaced a lot of people. How many? The confirm one, the verified one now, are 200,000. This is the confirm. But we are now verifying. There is a lot of report that are coming. I tell you that the report I'm getting from all the states now is over 2 million people that are affected. But we cannot announce it until we verified it. Oh, what if I do one is over 200,000? Yes, over 200,000. This is displaced. But the affected verified one are nearly 1 million, as you put it. And the rest are now being verified. There is always the teams that are on the ground to verify, because we need those who are really displaced. That needs support. Because when we say the figure is the figure that we are now going to respond, is the figure that needs support from us so that we go and support. There is those who have been affected, but they can't support themselves. Those people, they can go and-- I mean, they continue with the support that they get from their relatives or for themselves. But the figure that we are now verifying is the figure that we want to respond to. So the severity is in terms of the number of people affected, the number of the areas, some age. The impact on agriculture, because the crops now have already been destroyed, the infrastructure is affected. Some of the roads now have already cut off. Some of the schools have been destroyed. If I talked about the number in, let's say-- Yeah, we will talk about that later. OK. Then the schools are destroyed. The hospitals are destroyed. The animals are also affected. So this whole amount to the fact that is becoming a national disaster. This national disaster, compared to the existing resources, this is where we have a problem. So the needs are now higher than the resources available. So for us to cover this, we need to declare it as a national disaster. And this is exactly what I presented last time today to the Council of Ministers, using all these funds, requesting the Council of Ministers to recommend to the president to declare the national disaster. This simply to allow us to have that access of resources to mobilize sufficient resources for us to respond to the need of these people in provision of food, shelter, medicines, and other non-food items, including evacuating them from where they have now been affected. The pictures, Zani Martin, and the videos shows that it is a disastrous. Yeah, somebody posted on our Facebook page from Rubik and Lexi said that it is disastrous. Yes, we shall be hearing more from you later on Honorable Minister of the Montana Affairs. Yes, Admonia Kani, when you had this story of extraordinary cabinet meeting that was chaired by the president, you immediately issued a statement. First of all, as civil society, you have been also talking more about this issue of flood and advocating for more support and more resource mobilization to support those who have been affected, like I've just heard from the minister. The verified people who I need over a season right now is over 200,000, and those who have been affected is over a million, or even two million, like the minister said. First of all, as a civil society, what is your response towards these disaster the country is going through right now, given the fact that many South Sudanans who are living in these affected places have been undergoing a lot of challenges in terms of their livelihood? Thank you so much. Based on the statement of Honorable Minister, first of all, I'd say thanks for Honorable Minister. And honestly, let me take this opportunity also to congratulate Honorable Minister that at least we have seen our Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is acting as a mention of humanitarian affairs, compared to the past system of leadership that we have seen. And I remember every year we are proactively as an organization on the issue of the floods. And I remember this time, at least, the request for declaration of national disaster is too fast-track compared to the previous one. Previously, it was too long, 10 years long, talk about it, and of course, something also we've been calling for it to be declared as a national disaster. So thanks, Honorable Minister, that you are able to push in the Council of Minister, and I have read to that. Now, before I answer, I would like to put the image of the impact of the flood shocks on our people. So if we get it very clear that eight counters are severely affected out of 79, that means 80% of the country population is affected, which roughly can say 50, 50. 50% of the country is affected and 50% are affected. And I think that particular percentage tells you we should not remain silent, tells you we should really put flood response as a top priority because itself is also a national security disaster. Besides being a food security, but it's actually a national security disaster, because if 50% of your population is affected with the flood, and remember, when Honorable Minister was saying things like other social services sectors are affected, like education, like health, like infrastructure is affected, and these 58% of the population are affected. Are affected in the county that also, if we go ranking, we rank them accounters that have huge history of amped communal violence. Remember, this has now become a double shot. These accounts that have a lot of amped communal violence, and then are affected. Now, in the impact of the floods, they're going to compete on the little small highlands that are in existence. So among themselves, they're committed fast for human settlement, for livestock settlement. Besides, as they're going for those highlands, for settlement, there are also wild animals that are affected in the size of the population, affected the 48 affected counties. The wild animals are also affected. Also, the wild animal will compete with the human, with the livestock on the left highlands that are there. And that's why you can hear from Fiji, or there's a case of where a wild animal has eaten a child, because it's a competition over the highlands. So that is a magnitude of impact. And that's why I think, when honorable means, I was saying, if you look at the impact, qualify to be called as a national disaster. Now, what I want to take my step is, if we agree that it is a national disaster, what is required from the government? As I said, I appreciate it. First, what is required from the government is actually the top leaders of the country. And I like this opportunity in front of honorable ministers. I'm quite sure the next week they will have it, but I've got some people are listening. My convey message goes directly to his excellency president. This is a moment where we need to see leadership deciding aggressively in a manner that really value the lives of the citizens. Many show of human turn affairs now is a fast priority for funding than defense, because sometimes you like to buy guns so fast, that respond to a lot of people. So I'm appealing to his excellency president that within the week he should declare a flood as a national disaster, but also within the week they should put funding for flood response. If we were to attract our partners to put funding, then we would put funding. And they have had work on our governments, our pronouns, the whole plan, and actually, by the way, the plan, I was so impressed that this plan come early enough, this plan have taken enough stages of consultation, I was involved in the plan. So it's an inclusive plan that is involved. And I remember even when we start day one, we start bringing in the issues of persons with disabilities to be considered in terms of preparedness and response and messaging. It have been considered or brought in issue of gender-based violence, issue of human rights violation. So for me, the plan is rich in nature, that it have become a more an inconclusive document that will devolve all of us, and which, for the first time on this, that's what I'm saying, the most of human trust is taking right full steps. So what is required now? What is required is from the leadership of the country. This plan is covering the months of June to December. And as we speak now, as the president is going to declare floods as a national disaster, funding is not there. So for me, it's real and a pay that goes to his excellency president, that if he valued the lives of the citizen, whom he lead as a president, whom he is governing them, now is a priority to declare funding for the floods. And actually, I wish President to establish his own personal funding so that we feel that he is a leader. So for me, my message goes to his excellency president, that time has come to commission a funding for that. And this funding should be a priority. Why? We are not broke. They will have revenue. Can we collect part of this revenue? 50% of it goes to the plan, respond fund. Because so that we don't divert these revenues to certain directions. Because we are not broke. There's revenue, we've been calling it daily, Sani Martin. We've been paying PITs to states governments. So can the president direct state governors to dedicate 50% of the PITs that are calling it on monthly basis for flood? That's one thing I need to do. And second also, if we speak like that, we need the means of human trans fats to be assisted, to be assisted at level. The counterpart and the counter level should be also be equipped by state governors. So the appeal is only good to his excellency president, also the appeal goes to governors. We need to see a model governor that will take a model and show a case from the affected state, as one of our members have mentioned, that the governors also will take a step by saying, "Look, let's put something for the flood." That's one thing that I'd like to put forward, that goes to the governor. The other thing that I'd like to bring in is a private sector. With a private sector, that doesn't take its corporate responsibility. This is a high moment. I really urge many so few mentors to call an absolute private sector meeting. We are ready to cooperate on that. All they want them to do. Let the private sector put also support. We've been paying our time for, we've been calling for them soon, soon, as we're speaking with you, people are going to come from the villages, complain about the floods. What are they using? They're using either MTN or they're using digital or they're using Zane. So it's a high time that we need social corporates who come in, companies who come in, like MTN, like Zane, like digital, and we need to see hotels. These hotels, a competition is going $100, $200. Where is the sole corporates? We have other oil companies who petrol stations around here. So we need to call the private sector to come in, an actual one of my appeal. I would really like to honor the minister. Attention is that let honorable minister commission, a private sector conference on how do we contribute in responding to the lives of those people in the flood. That's one thing. And for us citizens also, as several side, we have a responsibility. For our citizens, we also need to come in so that we don't only complain, demanding, and we don't demonstrate the responsibility. And I would sign much in just to start with it. Right now, as I speak in our office, we have collected enough second-hand clauses. What I would really need to urge honorable minister is to formalize a basket within the ministry to collect and can support. Some people will bring either second-hand clauses or they'll bring whatever they can bring that can help, either blankets or plastics that can let us have such basket within the ministry of international affairs, we'll call it then, we send them to where the priority are. We cannot respond to everybody at the same time, but we can respond to the top needs that are there, as one of them is upset. So for me, that's really the opportunity I'd like to make. But of course, our call is that whenever we're responding, let us consider this ability, because these are the most affected. There are normal people affected, persons' disability, vulnerable group, are double affected. Okay, yes, honorable minister, let me take you back just to set it right for listeners who are not familiar with some of these states. You have already mentioned the six states which are badly affected. What are some of these counties? And you also, can you give us an overview figures of how many schools, how many hospitals, maybe which road is cut off so that people get to understand, and if I want to support, I will know why my second-hand close will be taken to. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Thank you, Osenia. - For that emphasis, and indeed, this is what we said from the beginning, that the impact is very severe. And as we have kind of put it, what we are now doing is that we respond to the most vulnerable people, most affected people. And the categories, yeah, are ranging from those disability, elderly people, women, children. And this is exactly what we are not trying to do. And from day one, when we put down this plan, what we did and what we focus on is early warning messaging and mitigation. And maybe this is why now the impact at least is reduced, exactly, we made early warning messaging very effectively. We tour state by state, mostly affected, and we talk to the communities. We alert the local, I mean, government and communities so that they talk to the people. Please, this area, because you remember that we have made, I mean, mapped the areas that are going to be affected. Those areas, we talk to the communities through the governance, through the local authorities, that please, these areas are going to be affected. Move from this to this, we also map the high ground. Yeah, move from this, go this way. I'm sure majority of people have moved. And this is why the impact is a bit now less than what we expected. So those messages went very well, and the communities have now come up to support themselves. Some have even mobilized themselves to construct dikes. This is why some of the areas now affected. Some of the pictures, Sunny, shows that those efforts of communities, while they are, I mean, trying to protect themselves, the water was very heavy. This is why some of them have broken and went on. Now, the impact on human was very severe, as I said, the number speaks itself. If the states now are bringing us the data, and we are now verifying it, if I include it here, it is now 2,700 something. If we collect the information came from the states, of course, we have established the committees in the states, the high level, I mean, task force committees in the states, those committees went county by county, and they collected information of affected people. This now ranging from 2,000,000 to 2,700. We are now verifying them so that we know exactly whether they really need the support or not. This is the impact on human. On livestock also is very huge. All these areas, livestock have been affected. Some have moved, and some have caught up with those situations of flood. So they are also affected. And the disease is now affecting all these animals and humans together. If you count, for instance, in the jungle state, you get a cobalt, duke, aort, auror, boarsas, twitches, pangak, all these are affected. Water is maximum, it's okay, okay? All these are affected. And the roads leading to these areas from headquarters of states are all cut off, okay? The schools about, if you talked about jungle state, about 12 schools and 15 health facilities demolished. Some are affected, but these are completely confirmed demolish. Yes, this is in the jungle state. If you go to northern Bargazal, you get all the counties, the five counties of northern Bargazal are all affected. They are under water. They are under water. You, even some cases of death or death in northern Bargazal, but at least eight people have died because of flood. Okay. Because of that. And then 35 schools and 19 health facilities have been demolished. This is a severity of the flood in those areas. If you go to Warrab state, you get all the counties. Tweet, Gogrel West, Gogrel East, Toynoth, Toynthas, all of them are affected, okay? And a lot of schools have also been affected. Some of the schools are now used to host the IDPs because there is no way people have now made it. And this is why the other day we talked as to try to, I mean, protect the learning program. We suggested that we will put up some tents so that the learning continues. If these schools are now destroyed. If you go to Appanile, the same thing. Reng, Mayut, Nasir, Panikang, Ivan, Makal, all these are affected. If I saw yesterday, the task force of Appanile, moving by boat, just to go to one area to another, is moving by boat, there is no road that they can use. The task force to inspect those areas, they are moving by boat, there is no way. And all these areas, if you go to Unity State, of course, this is the place of water. The water has been there for almost five years. We are now survive in Bento and Rook Corner because of dykes. All these years we have survived. And the water now are still coming. A lot of schools are dynamic, but in Unity State, more than 65 schools are damaged and are all destroyed by water. So there is no learning. There is no learning program in Unity State. - 65 destroyed. - 65 is cool. You go to Health about 12 or 14 in other areas. This is county by county. This is the severity of flood in Unity State. I want to emphasize that in Unity State, the case is very rare because the area is very low and the water has been there. A lot of activities have been disrupted because of that water. With this, I mean, increment of water, it is now getting worse in Unity State. The life is very difficult for human and life is done. If you go to Lakes State, the same thing you get. You have been seeing the picture. Especially, Rumbak has been affected heavily. Even the headquarters of the county was also affected and all the surrounding. The roads have been cut off. You have followed the scene. So these are the examples of the impact of the flood on the people across these states. And if we talk about the in terms of states that are affected, Yungwale is number one because when we anticipated the number of people to be affected are more than 1 million people in Yungwale. Now, the real number that is coming is about 800,000. So far, yes, so far as Rumba. So it is already rich that state that you have said. If you go to, I mean, Yungwale is number one. Then you come to Unity State, you come to Appanile, who are up, northern Bargazat, and then Central Lookatoria. Central Lookatoria, Terkeke is hit heavily. And Jupa Husker, of course, you know you are citizen of Jupa, you know what is happening there. And even the airport that we have just made some emergency response, this is why the airport now is safe. - I saw the work cleaning day. - Yes, we made a special program for the airport for us to protect it. The same thing we did to the airstrips around the country so that we protect them. This is one of the emergencies that we made, so that we make sure that those vital infrastructure are made safe, including airstrips and some roads. Unfortunately, some of roads, we could not protect them, but the airport and the airstrips, we made sure that they are protected so that they help us responding to the needs of the people. So this is the impact. In terms of health, you also get those diseases. As Yakhani said, the snake bite is very common nowadays. The snake is sharing the small, I mean, high ground with the human and even the animals. So everybody is trying to survive. - Yeah, including the snakes. - Yeah, including the snakes. So the situation is very bad. Now, if you talk about the response, I mean, the intervention, and this is where we have a problem. - By the government and the partners. - Yes, all of us. Because as I said, we had already a plan where we identified the needs ranging from food, shelter, medicine, non-food item and all this, including if a question of the people when they are affected. The response or intervention is where we have a problem, because the resources are very scarce. - Yes, honorable minister. The government approved over, okay, $76 million for this flood response. Have this money been released to your ministry? - Not yet. The minister of finance is now struggling to collect whatever is there to release it for us. But not yet. There's nothing that we are going to see. - Yeah, and three months down the line. Why is this money not being given to you? Given the fact that this is a very serious and national disaster. You have just given us a very serious analysis about 65 schools destroyed in the United States, 14 health centers, how many health centers? Over 100 health centers have been damaged. And this is talking about human life. Why is this money not being released to your office? - You're signing, Martin, you have been observing what is happening in the country. The economic hardship that we are undergoing as the government. And this is as a result of conflict in Sudan. You know, what happened in Sudan did not only affected us because of this displacement coming to us, but also affected us in economic wise. The only or the major dependent of our budget has been affected for all this period. So the revenue of the government have decreased, I mean, severely because of that impact in Sudan. So these have impacted on, I mean, ability of the government to fund the most critical and urgent activities. So this is what is now happening. This is why the Minister of Finance is now trying, by all means, to mobilize some of the resources and it is difficult because of the economic situation we are in compared to, I mean, the priorities that the government at now is actually trying to handle. So this economic hardship is what actually made the delay men of this basement of this money to come to Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. I agree with you, Simon, Martin, that this is a serious case. And the good thing is that we have prepared for it. We had early warning information that made us to prepare the best. And maybe what does not need money has now been done by us. It is what needs money that is now remaining. And this is why I thought about declaring the National Disaster as a solution to mobilize resources. Let me come to what your kind have just suggested. Yes, this is one of the reasons why we, I mean, requested the declaration of National Disaster. For us to have fundraising, internally and externally. Because when we declare that we have a National Disaster, definitely those who are our friends who will come for our support. Because when you declare a National Disaster, it means that the responding capacity is less than what is needed. And exactly, this is what is now happening. The responding capacity is less. The food that is needed over the, I mean, the shelter and the medicine that is needed, the way we are now responding to the government and partners is very slow. And the capacity is not there fully what is needed. Although the local government are now trying to respond, for instance, in northern Bargazal, the government of northern Bargazal have, I mean, contributed 200 million SSP. And they want to purchase food items. And they want to-- Not in Bargazal. Not in Bargazal. In some states, a kind contribution was collected. And people were also were helped. In Lake State recently, I think the, I mean, those in diaspora and the son and daughters of those people affected have collected their hands, and they support the people. So that kind of support is one of those messaging that we were actually delivering when we were touring. That please, first, you need to support yourself. The community have to mobilize their internal support so that they support their people. Local authority encounters have also to mobilize their resources to support their people. And the governors have also to do-- have to do that so that they support their people. Later on, the national government and the partners will come in to support what the local government-- I mean, the states are doing. This is what have happened. And I agree with you that we need to mobilize. And as they are kind of put it, this is one of the program coming, we are now organizing fundraising. But before we could organize fundraising, of course, we, as the government, will have to put something so that we go and ask the rest-- I have this. I have this, please. And this is the gap. We need you also to come in to support internally and externally. This is what we are now going to do. Yes, Edmoni Akani, you have heard the figures from the national minister of humanitarian affairs. And now we are expecting the president to do the pronouncement of a national disaster. Like you put it earlier on that this will require a lot of commitment from both the government, the other stakeholders, and also the international partners. I just want to read for you a comment from somebody who says the declaration of a national disaster status in a country is a serious national undertaking. It requires a special budget provision and engagement of specialized institutions. Like the army need to be deployed and all this. And he is focusing on establishing a special budget that will be managed like you alluded to. So in this scenario, if the president goes ahead to declare this national disaster across the country, what is required by the government to be done so that well-wishers can come in and support the government. Because right now, even the $76 million that was approved near the Syrian months ago, according to the Minister of humanitarian affairs who is here with us in the studio, Edmoni have not been given. OK, thank you. One, if the declaration, you can't make it as a declaration of pronouncement with that commitment. You need to make a pronouncement with a commitment. And I think for me, the commitments are for one. So the commitments does not require cash money. It requires income support. For instance, like what? A commitment of our military equipments. And by the way, I ought to also make sure that-- I need to take this advantage to think on our minister because when we're developing the national action plan, I've seen the military. Our military logistics are really fully engaged in the development and they have the most commitment that nuclear, what we need is just one support assistance. We will turn our choppers. From being in gunships of life, soldiers to fight, the lives will send them now to rescue the lives of our own citizens in the flood. So I think our military need now to deploy some of the equipments for the response to the needs of our people, like choppers that are there. If they're not affected by the economic crisis, because that's one thing or so, we need to find that from them. Anyway, go ahead. Yes, of course, we know that the economical crisis have hit us badly. I have to be really honest. And I want to respond to this in a view. Do you respective manner and constructive manner that we have is still money? Let me tell you, Sanimatin. Let me give an example. Yeah. Do you know how much our trophy are collecting per day in Juba? We don't have the statistics yet. We don't have statistics. Illegally, where does that money go? Can that money go to the needs of the people? OK. Now, if you start having other institutions that collect revenue, start using collectible revenue, supplement the areas of salaries. Now, everybody deserve it. Everybody's up to suspend it. So for me, it's a question of organizing the system. So for me, there's a need when-- when when a new sections president is declaring the disaster, OK? The flood is a national disaster. At the same time, he should commit all state agents that have a obligation of revenue collection to come to a one room. That means rent from revenue authority, traffic, rent to-- even our assessment of age, I think of age and migration, all these instructed on the daily basis of collecting money, even those who are collecting money in the front of the hospital. You know, if I entered out as a two pound of 10 pound-- all those actors need to work together and say, look here, we need a commitment. And remember, I still repeat myself. When a sections president is sworn in in this current incumbent minister to his office, his excellence president told him very clear and is in a public domain that I'm aware that we have enough money from the non-oil revenue sources. But unfortunately, there are so many pockets that collect that money and does not bring that money to one pocket. And he commissioned the minister to establish one single account to collect all the revenue. We have enough money. We have enough money. But unfortunately, our collection is not going in a manner that suits-- that's something also his excellent business in consideration is he declared. And I think for me, when come to financing, there's these practices that is common. And these practices, we need to really sort it out. Sometimes, political leadership have a commitment by declaring commitment that we need money to-- this is the amount of money to be allocated. But we have some people in the ministry of finance, not necessarily ministers. Sometimes we attack the minister of finance. We have some elders who are directors, and that's the minister of finance that sometimes mislead the minister. And they have-- I don't know why, because a civil service-- I was the same way how we issued degrees for changing ministers should be for some civil service and the minister of finance. Because sometimes, if I am minister of finance, for no reason, we have taken account of what's in there, we know some of them. So for me, also his excellent president, the president of the Mansuad, a financial commitment. The clear is a national disaster. Bring the minister of finance, co-chair him to the minister of humanitarian affairs, and other ministers like health, education, put a committee that work together and put fingers into the non-level resources that we have, and get governance into it. So for me, that's really a big commitment that is required for me as an executive president. Now, Ed Monica, I just need your independence thinking here. And you are aware about what I'm going to say. We have too much pressure when the government has to speak. The government have extended agreement, and they have made a commitment that they will have to accomplish all what is needed to conduct election in 20, 26, December 22. We have fled, on the other hand, that is affecting nearly 1 million people now, and more are going to be affected, like you've just heard from the minister. Health centers are being destroyed. Schools are being destroyed. Infrastructure are being cut off. And all these requests are gained attention. Don't you think the government is going to have difficulties in balancing which one should I find, given the meager resources? Of course, priorities need to be set. And some of these priorities does not need cash money. Some of these priorities need the day-to-day businesses to be delivered. For instance, let me come just on an independent person, this one. If we say we lack resources. Sunny Martin, I'm speaking with due respect and honor. And in front of honorable minister, he was a member of the cabinet, we are not ignorant. We are informed. The day-to-day business of mining in Capoeira, who is eating the money of the mining? The day-to-day mining in Raja, where is that money going to? We know that there's others of revenue, that some officials are mining, by the way. They are mining, they are mining. We are aware. We can see with our own eyes. We can see, where is this mining going to? Are people mining for themselves or are they mining for the rainy days? Can we use that mining? Can we say we need this number of clues of gold to the means of humanitarian affairs together, we have to sell it out for us to get the flood? We have money. So the question is that we're not transparent. Let us be honest. That's one in the right to put forth. When you come to the floods, as I say, the floods, some of the responses need cash, and some of the responses don't need cash. That's one thing that we need to put it very forward. So it means also, it stays affected. The governments need to be put down. And the governments don't need to see themselves as they're completely independent, and every have to be on the national level. The governments have to do something that are in kind and something that are cashless. Come to the agreement. In the agreement, some of the agreement provisions, there's no need money. For instance, for instance, let me give an example for this. Some of the actions are required. Amendment of the electoral law. Do you need really money for that? And the MPSI in the parliament. Today, you call a city on the MP on Sunday, and that city is involving $5,000 US dollars for the health. The MP will report. Why should they run after money? And they're not running after responsibilities. For example, minutes of humanitarian affairs. It's only minister battling. Where is the MPSI? Don't know, but supposedly, behind the means of humanitarian affairs, and put the whole government to focus on that. So, priorities can be said. The agreement does not mean that it should suffer because of the flood. No, it is setting priority. And the reason why we have different public institutions, we have minutes of humanitarian affairs, we have minutes of humanitarian affairs because each ministry can deliver. What we need to do is that we need to sit down in an honest manner and in a transparent manner and task people to take their responsibilities. Because this is my worry. Even we may have money. You may add that there's no money, but we have money. That means of finance is putting somewhere in the midst of finance. It doesn't look as humanitarian as a priority. Maybe Mr. Clarence will look at a trip on the president as a priority. President is going out, he'll just lose $5 million. But people are suffering in the face of the flood. This image of humanitarian affairs is not a priority compared to a trip on the president. So for me, it's a question of putting priorities in a right truck. We are not completely off. Just we need to put things in a right truck. And that's why I'm appealing. That is the time of the wisdom of his ex and the president and the members of the president. So one of the things I must, I'm really like always used to quote. And I think sometimes it's a bad message, but as a citizen, I'm honest. I'm saying, why are the members of the president packing their vehicle because there's no money for fuel? We need that money, that the use of fuel, part of which will go to the floods. Reduce your motorquets from 10 vehicles reduced to 5. Nobody ought to kill you. You are our leaders. Just to have one kind, one bodyguard, the rest of the cast pack them. The fuel, put it to the floods. All right. And if you have just joined us right now, you are listening to The Roundtable. My name is Sany Martin. You are coming to life from Cuba. And today, we are discussing about the impact of flood across the country. And six states have been hit hard by the flood. And the 38 counties have been severely impacted by the recent flood. According to the minister who is with me here in the studio, he says 200 over 200 people who have been verified to have been affected by the flood. And like you heard from them, resources are not yet coming, though the government approved $76 million to support these flood-affected people across the country. The man have not been released yet. And so many, so many schools have been affected. Just for example, in unity state alone, 65 schools have been affected. And if you go county by county, 14 health centers also affected. This is the one so far they have known. And the entire five counties of northern Baragazal are underwater. And reports of deaths already, snake bites on their eyes. And then a child have been eaten by wild animal in pink county of jungle state. And more reports are coming in. And they are yet to verify some of the figures they are getting before they go ahead to do some further announcements. And in the studio, I have with me, Honorable Minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, Albin Akol, attack and Edmond Yaconi executive director, community empowerment for progress organization, SEPO. Our lines will be up and due later on call on 091, 206 2970, 091, 206, 78, 79, or 091, 206, 79, 29, those are all our lines. So can call and be part of our discussion and ask the Honorable Minister. I am very sure some of you are going to be calling in and ask what kind of assistance have we given so far to those who have been affected. And the Minister and Edmond Yaconi will be ready to help. Honorable Minister, let's find out more with this question here. So far, what kind of assistance, apart from raising awareness across the country, people should go to higher land, what kind of assistance have you as a government provided to your own people because the primary responsibility of the government is to take care of its people? Yes, Senator Martin, once again, this is one of the issues that we need to focus on. And this is the main driver of declaration of national disaster because of the response, the support we are providing, which is not sufficient. You remember in our plan, we mentioned that 3.3 million are going to be affected. Yes. But we are targeting 2.4 million to support. Now, what I have just reported to you, more than 200,000 is what now we are able to support. See, this is what we are now able to support. But nearly 1 million is what we have over verified affected. So it means we are supporting less and then there is a U.E. gap. And this is going to increase because now the peak of this flood has shifted from October to November. Next month. So the peak of the flood is going to be next month. Yes, the more devastated flood impact is going to happen in November. And it will continue after December. This is what is now happening. So this is why we are now trying to make, I mean, to pre-arm to what is going to happen, already we have an impact that we need to address and it is already insufficient, what we are now doing. So what about if it comes to that scale? This is what we are now trying to prepare for. Now we are responding only to about 200,000 people in priorities, counties that we have identified, according to the funding, because when we came in to say that we have 264 million, this is what we needed to respond to 2.4 million people. The contribution we are getting as the government, we play, but we have not yet disbursed it. Our partners play up to now, I mean, 15 million. This is what you and Ocha provide it. Are they given any part of the money? Yes, this is what I am now coming to. Because of that money, we have now prioritized, because we said, okay, if we have scarcity of resources, we have to prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. Yes, we have now, according to that fund, we have selected some of the counties as a priority. Like which counties? Pangat is one of the priorities, because there is a lot of displacement. And this is the number of people that we are now responding to in Pangat. You come to Penigarh, is one of the counties that have been prioritized. You come to Mayandith, is one of the counties. You come to, is one of the counties that have been now identified to be, I mean, the priority. So this is where you collect these 200,000 people that we are responding to. It means some of the counties, we have not yet made any efforts, what we wanted to do. So the gap is now very huge in terms of response. And this is the point, and this is the point we are now coming to. So that response, which is very less to answer your question, we can say, yes, what we wanted to respond is not, we did not do it much. But the efforts of local communities are there. As I said, Northern Baragazal is doing its best, lakes is doing its best, also in some areas in the young lay, they are also doing some assistance apart from our partners' support. So the youth, I mean, the gap is very huge in terms of responding. So to do this, when we, I mean, when we, I mean, survey, where do we get sufficient resources, the best way is to declare it as a national disaster so that we now suspend some of unnecessary activities. And focus on the front. So when do we expect the president to do the pronouncement? Yeah, the president will do it, according, of course, the necessary arrangement, the necessary consultation, the necessary recommendation has already finished, yes. So it is the president now to do it on his time, according to the scale. What I want to say also, Sonny Martin, is that when we devolve as Yakhani put it, when we devolve this plan, we involve all these stakeholders, all the sectors of the government that are, I mean, connected to this, we involve them, including the army. And the army now is ready with its equipment, as Sonny, I mean, Yakhani said, to intervene some of the badges of the army are ready, some of the equipment, all this. As you said, we want just to facilitate those equipment so that they respond. So we are ready as the government, I mean, those equipment, and this is why we want to say we want to focus on this national disaster, so that we bring on whatever facility we have to support our people. And I want to say the declaration, thinking of declaring the national disaster, demonstrate the commitment of government on this, and as Yakhani put it, if the president declared it now, this is exactly, I mean, tells the people of South Sudan that the government is caring. The president is caring, and this is the listing that we can tell the people of South Sudan that the government is caring of their lives. So do you think if the government goes ahead and declared the national disaster, donors will come in given the donor fatigue? You have just come back from New York, where you are part of the investigation that went to the UN General Assembly, where there's some sideline meeting which you conducted in your capacity as a minister of humanitarian affairs, knocking doors for people to come and help the people of South Sudan through your ministry? That is exactly why we go, when the delegation is selected to go and do that, I mean, function to have sideline meetings, General Assembly is about sideline meetings. This official statement is just a report, but the sideline meetings are very important. In my capacity of means of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, I managed to meet the donors and the partners. Any good news for the people of South Sudan? There is good news, there is good news, because I explain the situation. The situation of the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is actually factored by the outside factor in South Sudan. Climate change is what is bringing humanitarian crisis. Incident in Sudan is what is now worsening the situation. So is outside what is happening in South Sudan, so we need to be supported. I explain the situation, especially the current flood. I made it very clear, and the good thing is that the partners are aware, those who are there are aware about flood in South Sudan, and we focus only on difficulty on all resources, which I have already revealed to them, and then the good thing that the US government has, of course, pledged another money to bring in it so that they support people of South Sudan, including people of Sudan also. So the US support, Germany also was there in that donors meeting, Norway was there, another donors country were there. The major partners, UNDP, UNHCR, IOM, let's say UN, I mean, I guess, yes, and then the international agencies, I also were there, everybody expressed readiness to support people of South Sudan, provided that the fund is there. So we want to say our engagement in New York was, I mean, productive, and definitely when we declare this, we believe that people will move to support it. Okay. If you have just joined us right now, you're listening to The Roundtable. My name is Sanya Martin. You are coming to your life from Cuba, and in the second hour of our discussion, we shall be opening our lines while you can call on 091-206-7879, or 091-206-7929, or you can also call us on 091-206-81-01. Those are all our lines you can call and be part of our discussion, as we discussed, the severe impact of a flood across the country, where many people are in need of a system in any form. And many people right now are no longer living in their own houses, they've been displaced by the flood. That's what we are discussing here with my two panellists, Dr. Albin Akola-Tak, the National Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, and Ed Monyakani Executive Director of SIPO, my name is Sanya Martin, and our lines will be open to you in the second hour. Stay tuned. [Music] The Round Table. [Music] The Round Table. [Music] The Round Table. [Music] [Music] The Round Table. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] The Round Table. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] The Round Table. Hello and welcome to the second hour of The Round Table. My name is Sanny Martin. You are coming to life from Juba. And our lines will be open to you shortly where you can call on 091-206-7879. Or you can also call us on 091-206-7929. Those are all our lines you can call and be part of our discussion. In the studio here, we have two guests and we are discussing about the flood across the country. Before we went for a break, Edmond, after hearing more from the minister, and we are expecting the president to declare. And there is already Donna Fatigue. And most of our friends who have been supporting South Direct from day one, seems to have taken a back seat in terms of funding any project in this country. What will it take right now to convince them that, okay, here we are. This is not the government. These are the people you have been claiming to support them. Please, can you channel your resources now to support the vulnerable people who are in need in most of these affected states. They are aware about it because they have their own ways of getting news information in this country. What will it require right now to convince these donors to support the people of South Sudan? Thank you, Sanny. First, I'd like to say, still the friends of South Sudan have not lifted their hands from South Sudan. That's one thing. And you can see the extension of humanitarian systems from US government. You can see from other governments, German government, Canadians. People are still coming in and people are putting money. And that's why you see ambassadors are very active. One other thing you can assess yourself is if you have in-country diplomatic committee or donor committee ambassadors, if they're not active, then you say they're lifting. But you can see all ambassadors are so active on our issues. So for me, that is there. What we need to do is, and this is number one I'd like to, before I could tell you what we need to do, is that also the humanitarian crisis in the world is not only South Sudan. There are so many humanitarian crisis right now, but then we've been chatting on Gaza. Gaza, if you see everything shifted from Gaza is now Israel after Iran have launched the missiles to Israel. So there's shifted as a shift of priority on humanitarian assistance. So we are not the only case. And sometimes our case that we speak, sometimes the floods are no more worse than the missiles that are falling into the citizens in Israel that are coming in hundreds in daily basis. So it's a question of now, how do we create attractive environment for the donors to maintain? Even if they're giving out to others, they say, let 10% go back to where we have seen, and then 80% goes there. What do we need to do in creating an environment that is attractive for donors? One, the humanitarian access impediment. And it may be this what I'd like to attend to honorable minister that, as President Diklea, the flood as a national disaster, part of the commitment is we need to quickly see what humanitarian working environment we need to create in this country. So that we don't get negative information towards the work of the humanitarian actors. For instance, we need to see all impediments that restrict humanitarian work in the past. For example, like the river blocks, the road blocks, the harassment of humanitarian workers either by our members of national security service or migration. You know, that's this office of migration where they see information in the humanitarian sector, where they're going, where they're going. This is what I got to do. So I think that's also directives need to come alongside the declaration. As President Diklea floods as a humanitarian disaster, the presence of Diklea restrict orders to all impediments that are affecting the humanitarian work to be lifted. And I think I'm quite sure with the technical work of the partnership and with the influence that honorable minister I have seen, when you come to the minister, what I was saying, the Minister of humanitarian affairs in Iraq. We can establish a working group that to make sure that all humanitarian respond to the floods, it is taken into account. So in all impediments are controlled. So another group to be established that, and of course, humanitarian societies are very big. And people like us were able to try in such environments. So to make sure that we create attractive environment for humanitarian work, because if information goes down there, that the humanitarian response is also done. That response is also done, is having no impediments compared to humanitarian response. In some countries, donors can shift priorities. They can say, "Why should we put our money to a country where it's rushing our humanitarian workers, intimidating them, while we have an environment in South Sudan that our humanitarian workers are doing best?" So for me, it's a question on creating an environment. That's one thing that we need to put forward, that's very important. I think also within the means of humanitarian affairs, for us to attract donors, we need to see somebody in the means of humanitarian affairs dedicated to engage the private sector. We need to have a private sector engagement that the private sector can come in. I'm quite sure some of the business committees, yeah. They're interested. They're willing. They're willing. They're willing. We have seen sometimes some communities either see an Eritrean community going to clean an area or Ethiopian community giving a medicine. Or you have, for example, we have seen the mission of Turkey. What a Turkish government ambassador goes and Turkey citizens come as a medical doctor, or Chinese come as a medical doctor, or you come to see some other countries having the citizens coming to come to rescue society. That means they're volunteers all over the world, but we need to create an environment of how to engage and how to create. So I think we need to have a focal point that engage humanitarian workers as a home, as a domestic-based approach. And I think we'll be honest, the person who's working with the humanitarian or the private sector should have a counterpad. Also, we have somebody who is a focal point for our desperate. I will tell you, I've got a huge call from the desperate community. We say we need a transparent and a trusted account. We can deploy money. So I think that's what comes to the means of humanitarian affairs, is to see whether they can entrust civil society or they can trust any people. For us to establish an account that we can publish our desperate community. And I have some citizens of other countries that are rich out to me. I have few Canadians who have rich out to me. Look here, we need to see where is an account. Do you guys have an account in none of the bank that even if I have my $5, I want to put as a get channel that I'm responding. So for me, so we need to establish and put a desperate fundraising source that our desperate population can come in. I think that transparent in a manner that really this money goes to the actual people. And in a transparent way that we can show those who have put their money. So I think for me that's another way around that we can get money to it. Hotels! Hotels have food. That's sometimes even some of these food of the hotel. It's wasted. So we can start working on how we do packages. And that's why our military come in. How do we publish something that our military can fly and chop us somewhere? Immediately. So I think for me that's opportunity. We just need to sit down. That's why as a separate next week we're working with the means of humanitarian affairs, we're looking into disability inclusion. But I think we can continue having round tables. And even we can ask hotels. If we're paying $200 in a hotel room in order to hold a meeting, can some hotels give us their space? Say, look here. As a part of a contribution to the humanitarian work as hotels, we're giving you one day if you have a strategic meeting come. And for free, with the pay, with the pay, with the pay, you can cut off our meals. Please have all contributions that we need to mobilize, that will strengthen our advocacy. So for me, those are the things that need it. But this requires commitment to this. And I'd really acknowledge it on our Prime Minister that declaring itself is a demotional of political commitment. Now, one thing we'd like to bring, Shani Martin, just before I forget, is to give a comparative analysis in terms of the planned responses last year in DCA. Where is the differences? And so that we can train these differences. Last year, the first three months of the floods, we have lost one of the 82 caters. Now, because of the early warning that honorable myself said, it have dropped up to 93. That was raised as an organization now, database. The lives of human beings from 38 from the first three months of last year, it have reduced to 19. So this tells you, if we can strengthen the early warning, actually one of the best is one of the best instruments that can make our people rescue. So for me, it's a question of how do we support the warning system that it works? That's something that I'd like to bring forward. So for me, it's really a question of us going to the front line and walk the talk, not the studio talking. We need to be in the field and walk the talk. And the leadership, one, the declare. Also, one thing I'd like to do is, even if President declared the National Disaster, can President do have a national address just to the citizens facing the floods. But it's a big commitment, just a national address, addressing the citizens in the face of the flood. As a head of state, as a president, I'm addressing you, I'm giving this, even if we can make a courtesy visit to some areas to jumble, just so, so, so a getcha to the people who are affected with the floods that we are with you, we do care. That getscha by itself, it will mobilize. And that getscha will put some people into account because if not, the head of state is the one. We have just seen in America, Joe Biden, I've just visited an area that was hit hard. I don't want to bring that example, as a rule of court. Yeah, there was another example here in Uganda. Also, one of the areas in Kincage was hit hard. The president had to travel there and see those areas. Anyway, maybe they are listening. Honorable Minister, before our lines are open, I want to ask two questions in one. We have flood hitting the country on the other side. Before the flood, we had humanitarian crisis where over 9.7 million people were in need of sort of our system. And what is the general picture now, beside the flood, what is the general picture of the humanitarian situation in the country? We also understand that Saudi Arabia donated food items and the distribution is ongoing at the moment. Where are these distribution taking place and who are the beneficiaries and how many parts of have been given this food donated by Saudi Arabia? Thank you once again, Sunny. And this is a very, very important piece of information that we need to provide our people. First, as you put it, we already have been dealing with humanitarian crisis. And these humanitarian crisis are caused by the conflict in Sudan. Over 800 people have now recorded, crossed the border to South Sudan, 800,000 people. Majority of them are our people, South Sudanese people, and the rest are Sudanese and other nationalities. These people come vulnerable. And this is why we said, "Let's open our door. Let's come." And we take these people to their final destination. We don't need camping of our detainees, because this also, I mean, ate another button. We already had another crisis, communal fights here and there, make some displacement. The previous flooding that have been occurring, also the drought, because this climate change impact, I mean, climate change impact in South Sudan causes also drought in some areas. So these leave people without any good harvest. So there is already food insecurity in the country. This year alone left about 9 million people in humanitarian needs. With this impact of flood, it has now worsened the situation. Those who have already been affected are now double affected. And the rest who have even living a good life also are now affected, because if some of those communities are affected, the rest also will be affected. In the issues of economic hardship that we are in, that I have just mentioned. So all these factors, I mean, raises an alarm that there is a serious humanitarian crisis in the country. This is the level we are in. And when we say that our response is very poor, it is because we have already been exhausted to respond to those crises that I have just mentioned. So this situation is really very dire. This is why we need a large scale mobilization of resources so that we respond to our impacted people. This is the situation we are in now. Coming to this tradition. Yes, let's first appreciate our partners, the role of our partners. Really our partners played a great role. The numbers that I have just mentioned, most of them survived because of the support from our partners, support from our donors. And this is why we always appreciate them. Governance also played their role. Counties, communities, they also played. I have to appreciate what everybody is doing so that we support our people. Friends of South Sudan, and by the way, because of those crises, I had to tour some of the friendly countries with the leaders of the President to tell them we have a crisis. Exactly when, I mean, especially when the Sudanist crisis erupted, which affected our people. I went to many countries and I delivered the leaders of the President. Most of them responded. One of them is Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia have been supporting our people since then, since I went to them, since last year. Currently with that continuation, they have now recently brought about 24,600 food baskets. And food basket is about assorted food items. And this food basket is actually meant to be given to a family or to household. So what they have brought now supported about 24,600 households. And this is what we are now distributing. Some have already been taken to Upper Nile, and some have been taken to Greater Bargazal, and some is here greater equatoria, where a lot of people are there. First, what we targeted was the retainers and the IDPs. And in Dubai, or let's say in Central Quatoria in general, we targeted IDPs and the retainers that have already come. We distributed in many centers. We have about 18 centers or 19 centers that we are not distributing to. In Central Quatoria. In Western Equatoria, we took up to where there was a problem in Tumbra. We took there because there is a lot of need. One thing I want to say, I mean Western Equatoria, in terms of food security, is the best. Because the production is good there, and the environment is good. They have no much problems of food insecurity as it is now in some northern states. This is why when the incident happened in Tumbra, where a lot of people have been displaced, we focus on that. Some of the displacement happened when there is incident in here, a moondry or what, there is this rock on there. Also at this place, yes. We also took part of it. In Eastern Equatoria, areas of La Fauna are affected. This is why we also took part of it. In Greater Apennale, starting from Yungole, we took part of it. We know this quantity is very less, but it gives hope. And this is why we have to appreciate the Saudi Arabia people. How long do you think this distribution will last? It's almost done. No, it is not yet, we are still distributing, because we make sure that we gather the most vulnerable people. That must be, I mean, benefit from that. It is still ongoing now, this distribution. Like you said, just for more clarity, with these food, assorted items from Saudi Arabia, you are targeting 24,600 households across the country. Yes. If you have just joined us right now, let's go ahead. Yes, to complete. This is why, for us to have that good intervention, with these small resources we have. I mean, it is exactly what is happening. We must make sure that humanitarian goods and workers are protected. So that we reduce that risk, and we reduce even that, I mean, intention of people fearing to risk their life to support people of Saudi Arabia. We must encourage issues of roadblock, all these are issues that we are now discussing, so that we reduce them totally. So we want to say that we appreciate who, but now we are supporting us, private sector. Yes, there is engagement, what you are going to say, there is engagement on that. And we will now make it very public when we declare the fundraising. This is where we will now make it wrong. So I want to say that there is a response, but compared to the needs, it's less. Okay, we have seen a lot of our listeners calling in, but this is very important. That will set up our basis for picking calls also, Honorable Minister Steele. Just last month, MSF closed the activities in the greater area due to a lot of insecurity. Some of the people who have ducted and ramsions have to be paid, and this has made the work very difficult. In connection to making life easy for humanitarian workers who are sacrificing their life to get help, the vulnerable people. Are you concerned about these issues, incidences against aid workers? For example, the issue of a greater aid, that comes to your attention, and what is your reaction? We are deeply concerned, and this is why we always condemn this. Not only condemnation, we always take some measures through the governance counties, I mean, commissioners, and our organized forces. So that we make sure that incident doesn't occur again. Many incidents occur, we investigated, we took some measures so that we don't, we make sure that it doesn't occur anymore. What measures have been sent? Yes, the measures is, of course, the security forces to be allowed on this, so that they protect the humanitarian workers. And to put in place any, I mean, security threat that is there, whether it is in the roads, whether it is around and surrounding, so that they make sure that nobody is attacking humanitarian. Nobody is looting, because this, this is small resources or small items. I meant to support the really vulnerable people, so we need to protect them. We know that everybody in need. And this is why, sincerely speaking, Sandy Martin, we resort recently to take from an hungry people or hungry person to a starving person. Yes, sir, yes, this is because we want from a hungry person to a starving person, because we want to rescue that person who is dying. This is because we have a small amount of items that we need to support our people, but we are determined, we are determined. So we need to protect those efforts and those items. All right, thank you very much, you have just joined us right now, you are listening to the roundtable. My name is Sandy Martin, you are coming to life from Juba. And today we are discussing about the impact of flood that has really affected the entire country with six states, badly hit. And the president is expected to declare a national disaster in the country as a result of this flood. Nearly a million people have been affected, but those who have been impacted and verified by the government and who are being assisted right now over 200 people, and so many health centers have been destroyed by the flood, and so many schools have been destroyed by the flood. So many roads have been cut off by the flood. According to the economy, at least 19 people have so far lost their lives as a result to the intensified awareness. The number compared to the last flood has dropped significantly from such 8 to 19, that means more resources are needed to put in this early warning system where people can be alerted about the dangers of flood. You can call us right now, as the minister said states like Lake State, Warrap, Northern Baragazal, Jungley, Unity, Appanel, badly hit hard by the flood. You can call us right now and ask the Honourable Minister Edmond Yakhani, and there will be in person to answer all your queries. 091, 206, 78, 79, or 091, 206, 79, 29, or 091, 206, 81, 01. Those are all our lines. You can't be asking your questions through, and my guests will be answering them right here. Hello. Hello. Hello. Yes, your name. James, India, in terms of county, San Martin. Okay, James, Mohal, but I couldn't identify that. I told you. Hello. Hello. Hello. Yes, what's your name, San Martin? Yes, San Martin. Yes, yes, yes, yes. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city, and they are in the city. In India, there is a lot of people who are in the city, and they are in the city. They are in the city, and they are in the city. In India, there is a lot of people who are in the city, and they are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, in India, there is a lot of people who are in the city. So, by then, by that, by doing that, this is where the water returns back to the community. So, if you can go, come from this. Now, all the houses are down. All the people have been displaced and they have no asset to come and refer. Even if the flood is going to go later in some humans, they will not be able to construct their own houses. My question is, who should be blamed in this scenario? And the person should be blamed is the person who is doing the contract of the road. They are supposed to be blamed and he is supposed to face charges. Again, this issue of affecting our people directly. Because even a hundred years back, this place has never been flooded. Because we have our fathers, our boned fathers, our boned fathers, our boned fathers, and there has never been a planned place. What you call the message you should do to the people of India? He is not here. He is not here. He has asked to answer your questions. Let's direct our question to the minister who is here with us in the studio. Hello, Rami? Hello? Hello? Yes, your name? This is Jacob Graham from WOW. Okay, Jacob, go ahead from WOW. Yes, yes, yes. Horrible. I have to ask a question. Your ministry has been preparing for the flood for the last five months. Okay. So, after a lot is now still, the citizens and their cattle, their belonging have been wasted by the water. So, what about the purpose of preparation? What about the purpose of preparation from your ministry? Because you have been talking about we are now preparing for the flood. The flood is coming. And after now, your preparation now has not even done any any positive impact to the community. So, what were the purpose of preparing before a five month? Did you come to get the fund so that you use the fund for your own activities? Or what were the purpose of that preparation? That's one. Another one is that the president has declared the civil emergency. If you were the ministry consent or the president, one of you have never even been to the area. Like you have not been able to go in a place where the people are now displaced. And also, if you are in terms of young people are displaced. And even if you are in Punjab, and even if you are in a windows, a windows of northern Baghdad, people are now on the street. If the president has not gone, and you have not gone again to see, how do you think that the people will live a thing with the best that their leaders are supporting them? Okay. So, I don't know. Do you see as to go there so that you see them? Or you are waiting for the fund to come. After you receive the fund, you will go on the ground. Thank you very much. We have a couple of SMS coming in here. And this one here is coming in from John. And John says, "Thank you so much, Honorable Minister, for coming to the studio always to make some kind of awareness." And first of all, talking to the people is very important. We hear from you all the time, not like other leaders. The question is, flood comes in every year. And every year, you will be asking for more funding. What is the best way of addressing the issue of flood in this country, once and forever to mitigate the impact of flood? Because I am sure by next year, flood will come again. Yes, let's begin with that question from John. Thank you. Thank you, John. And I really appreciate the feedback from our listeners, because this puts you really in a very, very good position to know what is really happening. Because the flood has been happening every year, and this is because of impact of climate change. And the only way, the only way that we put long-term solution to this is for us to have a mechanism to control flow of water. One of them is building a dam, because now some of the waters that are now flooded, which comes from Uganda or from Lake Victoria, where they are coming from there. If we have control on this water, definitely we will try to redirect the water for the use, maybe irrigation and whatever, which is happening in some countries. This is the facility and infrastructure that we need to control our water. Another one is to open the corridors of water. For instance, in the cities, we have to open the drainage water, I mean the drainage lines and whatever system. But people throw empty bottles of water all over, and that's blocking. That is what is now happening in Dubai here. For instance, when I mentioned that the airport is in danger, it is because the water comes from these residential areas, that always comes with the bottles of water, and then they block the drainage. I saw the fact that they are removing a lot of empty bottles of water. Exactly. So if we put in place all these issues, definitely water comes and goes where it's supposed to go, where they can be controlled, and then where they can be utilized. So this is the long term for you to know, but of course now it is a disaster. We must respond to it, and it may come next year. We will still respond to it in this way. What we are now addressing is the impact on this water, on the people, and livelihood. But of course control, controlling water is another, I mean the hope that we will do within the government. There is a ministry that is working on this, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has a comprehensive program on this, how to do it. And I think they are going well on that. Coming to Jacob, the purpose of preparing, of course, is to reduce the impact of this water on the people and the livelihood. And as we mentioned here, we made early warning messaging and mitigation. Early warning is to tell people that there is impact that is coming. Please do this and do this. And I believe what we have now done is what now reduce the impact in some areas. Mitigation, we have now constructed dikes. We have even tried to let people who are now living along the river to move away from that. So that is the purpose, not because we need money. Yes, we need resources to respond to the impact. But of course, not the way he understands it. There is no way that the purpose will be only to get money and use it anyhow. No, there is nothing. And for his information, I don't know whether he was listening or not. We have not yet received anything up to now. Yet we are also responding. The early warning messages have now saved more life. And there is intervention of the communities and local government. And our partners are doing best on this. So even if we don't have enough resources now, still we are now doing our job. So that was the purpose. We have been visiting these areas. The area, as mentioned, we went there. If we did not get him, this is a different thing. But we got people and the government and we have been there. We have come now concerned. Even maybe two weeks to come and now planning to go and visit these areas. So I will be there. Visit the president to visit the president, I mean, entrusted me to do his job. So if I visit these areas, definitely it is the president that will visit this area. Because when I visit, I come and report to him and I tell him the situation. So the president is aware and he is following keenly the situation that is happening. So the president is with these people by his heart. I think the construction of roads have also blocked the system. Yes, I don't entirely agree with him because this water, not because of roads that they are coming. It is because of the national, I mean, the impact of the climate change. As we mentioned, it is about normal rain that is happening and the water coming from Lake Victoria. It has nothing to do with the roads construction. What we want is, yes, the drainage system has to be opened. But this is a national disaster. That should not be attributed to any whatever. It is not like that. The development of the country must go. There is no way we can stop it. And the national disaster, we have to confront it. So it is not because of construction of roads that the flood comes. The flood came as a result of climate change. And we have to address it in that way as a national disaster that we want to confront it. So I don't agree with him to attribute it to that because all these areas, it is not because of roads. In Jungula state, there is no major roads and the areas now are all affected. It is even opposite. It is absent of this road. This is why the impact is huge now. If we had roads, we would have been actually reaching people easily, supporting them, supplying them with support, even moving them away from there. Now we are now going to be forced to move people by boats, people, and whatever. This is because of the absence of the road. So I don't agree with him. Andre Camilo, action speaks louder than what? Action is what now we are doing in Korea because we have put a plan. We have followed the implementation of plan. We are now supporting the people. We are identifying the affected people. We are now identifying the needs and we are now supplying them. What is now lacking with us is the sufficient resources because the impact is very huge. It is more than what we expected. It is more than available resources. And this is why we are now trying to take another step. The step of declaring it as a national disaster so that we suspend some of the unnecessary activities. We focus on this so that we support our fuel. This is itself is an action. It is an action. Okay. And there was a question from James. James? Yes. About a bridge that is cut off. Yeah. And I had him saying that there is no flood. But what cuts this road? It is the flood. I don't know what it is. So this is what exactly we are now addressing. And it is good that he has informed us. Although we know all this and this is one of the things that now we are now trying to focus. So that we make sure that areas are connected so that we serve the people. This is one thing that has been there. Issues of road and option of road is one of the things that is affecting all the rural areas. In terms of reaching hospital, in terms of reaching them to support. So with this water, it has now loosening it. And this is why we are now putting roads. It is one of the concerns that we need to keep them operational. So we recognize that. Okay. And there was this important question before we forget and move on. That whatever is agreed sometimes is not being implemented. Even if the president goes ahead to declare the national disaster in the country and the money. That was pledged almost three months ago have not been released. The flood will come and go and even the money will not be released. Or what is promised will not be released. What is the best way of implementing what is being announced? As I explained why this money or the sufficient resources are not there. It is because of economic hardship. It is not because people doesn't want it or people just say something and they don't do it. It is not like that. It is because of the hardship that we are in. This is why we are committing to find ways alternatives of doing the job. Okay. Yes, Edmond briefly because we have to take more calls. I want you to respond to the complaints. There are so many SMS coming in here. More or less like the complaint that the government beginning from the president downward. They are cut off from the people. They don't visit the people. The city and Juba do announcement without having a clear picture in their mind. Because only somebody who goes to a disco hall knows how the music sounds like in the hall. But if you have never gone there you will only be hearing from people. The issue of the leadership here in Juba not being in touch with their people on the ground. Is it one of the major concerns that is also triggering some of these questions? Let me, let me, let me, let me build on what our minutes have said. If it goes to the states, it takes along the concern from the president because he is entrusted as a minister for humanitarian affairs to go there. But as a good getcher we need to see, like he has said, to bring a big, one catastrophe visit. Not all of them because also have a hugely responsible country before him. But he can't show a getcher to one state or one year. But we have five. Why can't he delegate five of them? That is, that is where I want to come. As long as much as we look all on the president, we have other vice presidents that are very comfortable. They are all from the houses to hotel. And you will see them to do things. They have clusters divided. I remember in the last year of floods, high excellency vice president, Mama Rebek. I was flying around, we were playing, moving around. And for example, our infrastructure, our vice president for infrastructure, economical crisis, we have a vice president for economical crisis. Do now we have seen our vice president for economic crisis becoming too much of too many. And economic crisis is too much here hitting. So, for me, there are other people around, you know, one of the biggest thing, Sonny, and as my answer to my colleagues, that we have a government that their own fellow colleagues, I'm quite sure. This is my prediction. I'm quite sure. As one of our governments of humanitarian affairs is struggling to see resources of the country going for humanitarian affairs, there are some people fighting him, giving a wrong message to the president. No, no, this minister is not, you know, you know, remove him, campaigning, and then, you know, our ministry is much more. And some are creating insecurity to make sure that there are no attempts for president on, for this time. Let me, let me, let me, let me give example. I want to be straightforward. Yeah. Right now, there are people who are engaging. They check the direct of national security. Some people are telling it as a big issue in the country. So, if you should meet the people, somebody entrusted for a period, he have gone another person to come. What do you claim is, it's sort of a, no project. People want to make it as a feeling project. Why do you have humanitarian here? So, for me, sometimes it's a question of our leaders, that some of the leaders want to count that their own counterparts. For this time, what the minister of humanitarian affairs is doing is affecting general education, is affecting health, is affecting infrastructure. Okay. And your vice president for infrastructure, your vice president for issues of gender, your vice president for economic affairs. So, for me, it's a question of national concessions. This one thing that is affecting them. That I think is affecting them, also, they look at the particles. Some, some, some party members, we say, oh, the minister of humanitarian affairs comes from OPP. We're supposed to be at the SPLM. Why are we funding these? Some people are giving even leaders of the country pocket priorities rather than citizens' priorities. So, for me, these are some of the things that has affected some leaders who will be moved. And some people want to see if president is moving, for example, from his office, won't pay a capacity visit to one flooded area, some people trying to become an SPLM program. People who buy t-shirts, caps, you know, campaign. And then you're buying t-shirts and caps and all people are dying, eating by one animal. So, for me, it's a question of our leaders to take responsibility. So, some of this hindrance is not an interest of the minister of humanitarian affairs. It is actually his internal coalition who are fighting him. And I'm quite sure, as we are campaigning for, for flaps with the players, and that's what disaster, some people are missing from it. And they say, no, no, no, no. What businessmen are saying, okay, this is not from our party's OPP. You're giving credit to our making them more popular. So, people are doing that, you know, they're fighting within. And we know them. We know them. Some of them, some of them, we don't know them because they are bodyguards, they are drivers, they are sisters, they are friends, they are telling us today. You are campaigning here, while honorable, it's telling us this. So, for me, that's one thing that I have affected. This one, one hundred people come for this also to inform citizens that they're talking that way in the studio. It have reduced lives, sunny. I want to repeat for those who say information is not important. Information is important. Compare drop of life from 39,000 people, from 39 death to 19 death. It wasn't the information. We're not going to rescue that. We're going to have more. And remember, the magnitude of the flood this year is worse than last year. If last year is less than this year, and last year, we lost more lives. And this year is worse and we have reduced lives. I think that for me, it's something we should appreciate. That actual information is helping information. The only thing that would be English is too much. We need to localize it. And of course, on our problems, I was going with it. I saw it, by the way. I met them in the airport. I was flying. I was leaving Juba. I'm going to unity. And I saw on our bald minister with this delegation. And then the resident coordinator of humanitarian affairs. Plus, other UN agencies are taking up responsibility. They're going somewhere. They're communicating. And I talked about them. So I think for me, information is very important to do. My final example, before I could get another call that I would like to put forward, is also to tell the citizens that it is also a high time that's only not nook at the national. Let us look at the states. There are also some people in the states, government, either governor or some ministers. They are not taking responsibility. Whenever they ask, they want to push the game to the national government. They also do something at the level. Thank you. Hello, everybody. I'm here. I'm following the next day. Okay. I'm going to go ahead from the county of Lake State. Yes. I appreciate the minister and the DG. Actually, they were just talking about the disaster. And I was just following the speech from the beginning up to now. And I didn't even have the names of Lake State. And Lake State is one of the state who was a tactic to imagine those two areas. In your bed and in the East. Plus, five dogs are being lost. And what I want to say is, as we are just hearing the talk, and the talk is just creating and people are just talking. But there is no any work that has been done in the country. The people are in Juba and they are discussing the issue of the counties, the states. But they are not coming to the areas. We have the affected areas to see exactly what is happening, exactly in those areas. Say that they can go and communicate it. I even appreciate the talk of the eight million. The state teams came and they were just trying to delegate to people. And later, they are even blocked to go and give exactly what they have seen in the areas. This is one of the things that we have seen. They are just delegating people. And the people who they delegate, they not even reach them to give them exactly what they have seen in the area. This thing that they have to observe, and I won't collect the government. Say that they can have kids. Say that they can observe to see what is happening in the country. Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm from Macho back. Hello? Hello? Hello? Yes, your name. Yes. Thank you. Hello? Hello? Yes. Your name? From my... Yeah. Before I was in Alcova, I was in Alcova, but I came to vote. Okay. Go ahead with your question. Yeah. I would like to welcome the guests in the studio, the honorable minister, and Yakhani. Okay. Yes. My question to honorable minister is that now that you mentioned all the most affected countries across the country. And especially in Zhonglei, where I am now, the country they have mentioned is real. They have been smart, and people are everywhere now on the road, and some of them move to higher grounds. So, my question could go like this. Does your office have a plan to take out these people from where they are now because they have been suffered for a long? Does the office have a plan like, forget about the people who can't support the humanitarian? Okay. The office of himself has a plan because the office has something to do so that you can get out of the situation from where they are suffering for. Okay. And to Yakhani, I really appreciate this work. There has been always talking if the government is to hear what the Yakhana always took. Then there will be no suffering here and there. So, to I really appreciate Yakhani because he has taught the contribution himself, his office, because he was talking of second-hand clothes, blanket, and all these to support those vulnerable people. Thank you very much. So, how far has he gone now? Okay. Any update on the contribution? Yes, you have got your question. We are running out of time, time rather, and we have to conclude in the next six minutes. If you can answer some of these questions briefly, briefly, I will begin. There is a question here that has just been sent. There are allegations or reports on social media that this food that was donated by Saudi Arabia are being sold in the market. And we want to find out what the mechanism is being put in place to ensure that this food that is being donated by another country finds its way to the market. And we have reports from, like for example, in what upstate, the Saudi food is being sold in the market and is there any policy in place in dealing with humanitarian food aid. And also to make sure people who are selling this are taken into maybe some kind of measures or policies. Yes, and let us start with that serious question and allegation. Let's put it as... Can that come to our office? Reports are always coming in such a way. Even the food that is being distributed by WFP, sometimes it goes to the market. And we always launch investigation. When we hear that the Saudi thing is happening because it is a crime, we cannot go and beg people because of our vulnerable people and some people are now taking it to the market, benefiting from it. This is a crime and we cannot accept. So we always investigate. If there is any information like that, we always go and investigate. Whenever we find it is true, we take that food and we take the somebody who bought it and somebody who sell it. But sometimes, some imagine those who benefit, who receive it, sometimes they take it to the market to exchange it. Not one supposed to be in a small scale, but if it is in a bigger scale, this is where we have a problem. Also, we also tell them, if you don't want to give it to somebody who eats it, if you are not in need, don't sell it. So whenever we get that allegation, we always investigate it. Now, if this is information, immediately we will launch investigation. When we see it is true, we will help accountable those people who are responsible for taking that action. Are there stories where you are investigated and people are apprehended? Yes, there is stories. You remember, Chinese always bring us rice. There is a case that some of our officials colluded with some people and then took it to the market. Yes, it was investigated, it was arrested and it was taken back to the store and those people have already been punished administratively. So that is a crime. If you can spend one minute to summarize the answers to the question that we are in, because we are running out of town. Yes, one question from Abram is already asked and answered about the lakes. I have mentioned enough about lakes and of course, I have visited this area. About Galwag and Bohr, yes, what we are doing to support these people, apart from giving them food and non-food items, is to evacuate them from those places. Because this is one of the response, we always say, please you move away. Those who could not move and they are caught up with the flood, we always come and evacuate them to high ground. So those whom you are talking about, there is already a procedure and activities that are going on to take them from there to the high ground. So this is what we are now doing as the ministry and this is why we need resources because all these resources for them to be evacuated. Some of them who are vulnerable, elderly, sick people, women and children cannot move quickly from there and this is why you hear some cases of death. So we evacuate them. And finally, you are concluding remarks. Between now and the peak of the flood in November, I can mention, what activities specific activities is the Minister of the Mantellan F.S. has were waiting for the President to declare or even if he goes ahead and declare the National Disaster in the country, what activities people should look for to support the people who are affected. Yeah, we are continuing the same activities within the plan to support the vulnerable people. We are supporting them with food, non-food items, medicine and all this. We are continuing also sending the messaging because it is still, there is those who still also need to be directed. After the flood has happened, we also need to direct them. We are still also going ahead to evacuate them using the local authorities, local communities, so that we take them away from there. We are also continuing trying to follow those who are affected so that we get those information. We see what they need and then we move to support them. Thank you very much. I would like to thank the Honorable Minister Albin Akwala Tak for coming to our studio and Ed Mani Akwani. Thank you both for coming. Thank you. And with that, we have come to the end of our roundtable for this week. My name is Ani Martin. Stay tuned. The roundtable. [BLANK_AUDIO]