The United States Agency for International Development has announced a donation of $17.5 million for emergency education project to children displaced by the conflict in South Sudan. 

The project is expected to benefit more than 150,000 children displaced in mainly the 3 states that have been affected by the violence.

It will be implemented by UNICEF.

The USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator, Linda Etim, announced the partnership with UNICEF at Mahad Girls’ Primary School in Juba this morning.

She said the provision of education to children would help prevent the circle of violence in South Sudan.

“We know that investing in children is investing in the future of the people, we know that investing in children is a way of preventing violence and we know that there is no way that you can take away the investment in education that you give to children in a way that you might be able to destroy buildings, in a way that you might be able to destroy houses and homes and roads,” said Ms Etim.

“We think that in situation of crisis that education is often forgotten and that this is hopefully one of many opportunities that we have regardless of the circumstances to continue to invest in people.”

Ms Etim said the US government also wants to focus on educating children in other more stable areas of the country.

The UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan, Jonathan Veitch, said the donation will also help in improving sanitation around the IDPs camps.

He said they will be focusing on the states of Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, Lakes, Eastern Equatoria and Central Equatoria.

“Communities that are living near the area will also benefit from the use of the spaces and also from the building, infrastructure and water and sanitation facilities,” he added.

Mr. Veitch said last year’s statistics shows more than 58 percent of school age children were out of school, and less than 12 percent completed primary school in South Sudan.