The South Sudan Red Cross commemorated a delayed recognition of the Dec. 5 2014 International Volunteer Day last Monday in Jonglei state with hope for peace and stability in the world youngest nation.
The directorate of the South Sudan Red Cross Bor branch stated that their appreciation for the work, commitment and the roles played by the volunteers who help and save the lives of vulnerable people across Jonglei state during the crisis which as devastated the state capital.
South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) Director David Gai Deer said that the objective of the celebration was to recognize the effort of volunteers in 
public and to encourage communities to continue cooperating daily in services provided for the vulnerable population, as well as to enable a public understanding of the meaning of being volunteers in their own communities.
“We are also championing to make sure that our communities remain capable and resilient and this is a very important step because a community whose defense is always on relieves that community’s vulnerable for ever, and that is why we are championing seriously to make sure that our communities remain resilient in most of the capacities and able to have enough food and agriculture,” Gai said.
SSRC has been delivering relief assistance to most affected populations across the state and these include the distribution of non-food items to vulnerable population in Bangachorot, Panwel, Pariak and Malek.
David Gai said these were the areas with no organization supporting the civilians during the crisis.
He said other distribution was done in Bor town which covered a number of internal displaced persons who came from Duk and Twic-east counties and some returnees from Minkaman of Lakes State.
The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) head of the sub-delegation, Joris Pieter Paulus, said that they had achieved a number of issues during their operation in Jonglei state.
Paulus said the ICRC will continue with its support in 2015 also by putting in place certain new structures.
“I think that through the main efforts by South Sudan Red Cross and International Committee for Red Cross, we have been able to achieve a lot that ranges from food distribution in places like WAAT [opposition area],” Joris said.
He said in Bor town they had put in place border treatments in cooperation with local authorities and they had been providing clean water to at least 60–maybe even 70–percent in the town of Bor.
Jonglei state’s UNMISS coordinator Hazel De Wet urged the government of Jonglei state, particularly state officials who deal with security, to work hand-in-hand to provide support to people in need.
De Wet said, “Let there be peace for South Sudan and let them all put their hands together in order to find a lasting solution in the interest of people and children.
“It is not an easy task, so I want to say from UNMISS, please be assured we will–within our capability and within our mandate–try our best to ensure that we support you to where we can.”
She said they need peace in the country so that they achieved their goals.
“We need access, we need the level of security and we need to improve collaboration with the government,” De Wet said.
The acting governor of Jonglei state Baba Medan Konyi assured the South Sudan Red Cross that the Government of Jonglei is committed to peace. He appreciated the work done by the South Sudan Red Cross volunteers who work during the crisis.
South Sudan Red Cross was officially admitted in November 12, 2013 in Sydney as a member of International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies by the IFRC.
The organization promotes humanitarian values by encouraging absolute tolerance and respect to different perspectives which are expected to be in South Sudan with a view to its main mandatory.
South Sudan Red Cross Society is a humanitarian organization auxiliary to the government of the Republic of South Sudan which works in the humanitarian field while aiming at reducing human suffering and improving the livelihoods of vulnerable people in South Sudan.
The society works in accordance with the fundamental principle of Red Cross Movement.
The South Sudan Red Cross was officially recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross on June 18, 2013 in Geneva, following the independence of South Sudan, and it has been recognized by the National Parliament under the laws of South Sudan.
By Archie J. Riak