Hundreds of vulnerable women and girls in Juba on Friday received much-needed dignity kits aimed at improving personal hygiene, safety, and wellbeing amid ongoing humanitarian challenges.
The distribution was officially launched during a ceremony attended by senior government officials and development partners, with the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Nuna Rhoda, presiding over the event alongside Ma Qiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to South Sudan.
The two leaders symbolically handed over the first batch of the kits, marking the start of the initiative.
The dignity kits are designed to help women and girls manage their personal hygiene safely and with dignity, particularly during emergencies, displacement, and other crisis situations.
In South Sudan, where many women and girls have limited access to basic sanitary supplies, such support provides immediate relief and helps reduce health risks and vulnerability.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Ma Qiang emphasized the importance of supporting women and girls in humanitarian contexts. “Women hold up half the sky,” he said.
“They are important contributors to human civilisation, and advancing women’s rights and welfare is a shared responsibility of the international community.”
He added that the donation would help women and girls maintain essential hygiene during crisis and reaffirmed China’s continued support for women’s development and gender equality in South Sudan.
The Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in South Sudan, Dr. Kidane Abraha, described the contribution as timely, noting that the kits respond directly to urgent needs on the ground.
“The value of these dignity kits is not in the money, but in their importance and timing, as they provide basic support to women and girls who lack access to essential hygiene during crisis,” he said.
Nuna Rhoda said the dignity kits represent more than humanitarian assistance, describing them as a symbol of dignity and protection for women and girls facing hardship.
“These dignity kits are not just items in a bag; they are a gift of dignity, safety, and comfort for women and girls in vulnerable situations, and a practical step in our shared mission to end gender-based violence,” she said.
She added that the initiative complements national policies and programmes aimed at strengthening protection systems and promoting the rights and empowerment of women and girls.
Beneficiaries welcomed the support, saying the lack of clean water, soap, and sanitary pads has made life particularly difficult, especially for women caring for children in displacement settings.
One beneficiary, Nyamuch Deng Mgung, appealed for continued assistance, including improved access to water and basic supplies, to ease the suffering of families living in camps.
The distribution of the 800 dignity kits was implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.
Officials said the donation forms part of broader collaborative efforts to address the urgent needs of women and girls affected by displacement and humanitarian crises in South Sudan.
UNFPA reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Government of South Sudan, particularly through the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, to ensure that protection interventions remain survivor-centered, culturally sensitive, and aligned with national priorities.
