Distinguished guests,
Colleagues, 
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour to be here today for the launch of this important project in Juba and Malakal. This is a significant moment in our ongoing partnership to support South Sudan and its people during these challenging times. I am very happy that we do the launch with our excellent UN partners. At the EU we love the UN system, and the EU is its biggest donor. 

Together we stand for freedoms and for the human dignity as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Together we stand against the backsliding we have seen in many parts of the world where democracy, human rights and the rule of law are under pressure and conflicts and the rule of force are on the rise. Together, today - and of course also tomorrow - , we stand for the support to and rights of migrants and refugees, who so often become scapegoats and victims in – let me cite High Commissioner Filip Grandi – “our brutal world”. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

In April 2023, war erupted in Sudan with sudden and intense violence, taking the world by surprise and threatening to destabilise the wider region. More than two years on we have seen terrible mass atrocities and the world’s greatest humanitarian catastrophe. Millions of people were forced to flee their homes in search of safety, and security.  

South Sudan saw a massive influx of refugees and returnees (some of them were born in Sudan and should better be called “turnees”) in a very short period. Despite its own shortcomings South Sudan opened its doors to all who were seeking shelter – about 10% of its population, showing great solidarity and resilience in hosting those who have fled. I cannot even imagine in my wildest dreams what would happen if 45 Mill - this is 10% of the EU population – would knock at the door of the EU within two years. 

In response to this crisis, the European Union and its partners, particularly UNHCR and IOM, launched a €23 million regional intervention to support countries affected by the influx of refugees and returnees: South Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia.

This intervention was based on the vital principle of integration. Our aim was to foster the inclusion of forcibly displaced populations by improving access to basic services for the new arrivals and the communities that welcomed them. In South Sudan, perhaps more than anywhere else, we see how the challenges faced by displaced persons often mirror those faced by local communities. The needs are vast, ranging from healthcare and education to livelihoods, peacebuilding and support for survivors of violence, including gender-based violence, as well as access to identity documents, housing and land.

To address these multiple, interlinked needs, the intervention in South Sudan took a multi-layered approach: rehabilitation of schools and health clinics. Training in health-care, education, agriculture, conflict resolution and support for survivors of gender-based violence. The intervention also provided legal assistance to help people secure access to land, property and identity documents — essential foundations for a stable and dignified life.

This is why today's launch is so significant.

Thank you.

Background info

The official signing of the project will take place on World Refugee Day, on 20 June 2025, at the UNHCR compound—a fitting occasion to reaffirm our joint commitment to supporting forcibly displaced persons and the communities that welcome them.

Project title: Strengthening Community Adaptability and Resilience for Displaced and Host Populations in South Sudan

Total cost of the project: EUR 12.500.000

EU Contribution: EUR 11.000.000 

Overall objective: To strengthen stabilization and resilience efforts in South Sudan, particularly in areas heavily affected by the Sudan crisis and the resulting displacement. It supports the government's integrated settlement approach, which seeks to expand housing options and deliver basic services to communities with large numbers of refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).