rki.news
Source: Xinhua
Juba: South Sudan is facing significant economic and humanitarian challenges as donor assistance and humanitarian funding decline sharply, according to two new World Bank reports released on Thursday.
Charles Undeland, World Bank Group country manager for South Sudan, said official development assistance in 2025 has fallen to about half the average recorded between 2019 and 2024. With U.S. aid reduced by 80 percent and European Union support down by 20 percent, the country risks steep cuts to essential services, including food security, nutrition, education, and healthcare.
The World Bank, in partnership with the government, launched the Public Finance Review and the Country Climate and Development Report, which are intended to guide fiscal reforms and climate policy amid deepening economic pressures. Undeland warned that without urgent investment in resilience, the livelihoods of millions of South Sudanese could be severely affected, and the country may lose up to 13 percent of its gross domestic product by 2050 due to climate-related impacts.
Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Yien Gach Ruey said the reports provide actionable recommendations to enhance fiscal efficiency, strengthen domestic revenue systems, and support sustainable economic recovery. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing climate resilience measures, particularly flood-risk mitigation in rural communities.