Hanchul Kim, UNICEF South Sudan, WASH Specialist - Credit: Moses Awan/Eye Radio August 23, 2023

More than half of South Sudan’s population is still practising open defecation, this is according to the UN Children Agency – UNICEF.

An open defecation is an act of individuals or communities relieving themselves in public spaces, such as fields, forests, or streets, without the use of a toilet or proper sanitation facilities.

Speaking on Eye Radio’s Dawn show on Wednesday, August 23, a UNICEF South Sudan, WASH Specialist said the percentage of those practising open defecation shows low sanitation coverage.   

Hanchul Kim added that UNICEF is supporting the government of South Sudan to eliminate open defecation by 2030.

“In South Sudan currently 60% of the population are practising open defecation which means the sanitation coverage is very low and human waste can contaminate the water sources,” said Kim.

“We are really trying to support the government initiatives and the South Sudan government has set a very ambitious goal to eliminate open defecation by 2030,” he said.

“We need to accelerate our effort and one of the things that we are supporting the government to create an open defecation-free roadmap by 2030 and really trying to eliminate an open defection.”

The South Sudan’s government this week earmarked 56 million US dollars to strengthen the presidential compact strategies, which include empowering communities to end open defecation by 2030.

The announcement was made at the Stockholm World Water Week in Sweden which gathered thousands of international leaders and experts this week to address the water and sanitation crisis.

The initiative emphasized the need for increased budget allocations, innovative sources of financing, and comprehensive plans for the construction of vital water and sanitation infrastructure.

This aims at improving public health, ending open defecation, and increasing climate resiliency.