SOUTH SUDAN: Caritas South Sudan Distributes Agricultural Tools and Vegetable Seeds to Over 3,400
Ginaba Lino
Over three thousand, four hundred (3,400) vulnerable people benefits with agricultural tools and vegetable seeds from Caritas South Sudan to sustain their livelihood during this pandemic crisis
Speaking to AMECEA correspondent in Juba on Tuesday, the program manager for Caritas South Sudan Mr. Joseph Sabu Pascal stated that the targeted population is the urban vulnerable households in light of Covid-19 and that the project was designed because under the pandemic many households have lost their livelihoods.
“The back yards and front yards will be utilized for vegetables in the households. In addition, the expenses they were supposed to incur go by going to the market and buy vegetable have been reduced, so the money which could have gone to buying vegetables will be transferred to other cost”
Joseph said Caritas is a development wing of the Catholic Church and that from times immemorial, the church has been at the services of the poor. This remains a key orientation and mission of Caritas.
He added that after the distributions, Caritas is going to organize training for the vulnerable people who have received the tools and seeds on how they can grow the vegetables
“As soon as the vulnerable households receive the items, the first thing we are going to do is to give them training. We have what we call demonstration frames: in the demonstration frames we actually teach them how to grow the vegetables whose seeds they have just received.”
Caritas South Sudan has three (3) pillars namely direct distribution, demonstration frames and engaging them in what they call vegetable producers group, Sabu Adds.
Meanwhile Rahama Hassan one of the beneficiaries has stressed that they have been lacking such help and they thank God for Caritas South Sudan for such solidarity with the vulnerable across the country.
“In the beginning I want to thank God for what Caritas has done for us because what they are distributing to us today is going to help us in many ways, for example, the rakes and hose will help us in clearing our surrounding to keep us safe from mosquitoes and the seeds will help us to reduce costs which we normally smeet on buying vegetables”.
Rahama says, if Caritas can also look in the part of health and bring mosquito net it will be better because many people are affected from malaria, especially children from 0-5 years.
“If they can help us with mosquito nets, it will reduce the high number of malaria cases in the area. We are not demanding but simply raising our concern for them to take note”.
Edward Lomude another beneficiary also said they are lacking gumboots because during rainy season, the place is full of gin worms and these can also affect them.
He calls on Caritas to continue supporting the vulnerable people adding that Caritas should never forget them like other organizations which came like that have since disappeared forever
The program manager for Caritas added that, they have taken note of the concerns and that Caritas will look into those issues
Caritas distributed hose pipes, rakes, cabbage seeds, okra, onion, Tomatoes, and among many other.
