USAID donates speedboats to Jonglei state

By Toby Collins

October 31, 2011 (LONDON) – The US Agency for International Aid (USAID) on 25 October announced it has donated five speedboats to Jonglei state authorities as part of an initiative to ‘enhance the government’s capacity to reach isolated counties and deter emerging community security threats.’

Due to the limited road infrastructure in Jonglei, the waterways offer the only route to the more isolated communities during rainy season.

Although USAID is primarily concerned with development, the deputy mission director Peter Natiello told those assembled at the river Nile in the state capital, Bor, that “we know that the development that we seek to support the citizens of Jonglei with will not be possible unless we work together on the security issues.”

Also donated to the state by USAID are 60 satellite phones and 17 Codan high-frequency radios “to improve communication between authorities.”

Jonglei has long been blighted by insecurity; in an incident in August 58 people were killed

(ST)