The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday donated 500 brick-making machines and nine motorcycles to South Sudan’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to aid people displaced by conflict in Sudan.
The interlocking brick-making machines will be distributed to returnees, host communities and vocational training centers supported by UNDP, while the motorbikes will bolster coordination and data collection for the National Operations and Coordination Centre.
It’s unclear how much did the UNDP invest in this initiative.
At a handover ceremony in Juba, UNDP Resident Representative Mohamed Abchir called the initiative a step toward sustainable reintegration for displaced populations.
“Today’s milestone is not just a handover of equipment, but a symbol of renewed hope,” Abchir said. “This will empower people to rebuild their homes, earn livelihoods and restore dignity.”
Since April 2023, South Sudan has received a large number of returnees, including women and children seeking stability. Abchir stressed community-led solutions to foster long-term recovery.
Humanitarian Affairs Minister Albino Akol Atak said the brick-making machines will be sent to six states in the first phase, supporting housing and job creation. The motorcycles, he added, will improve field coordination and real-time data collection for crisis response.
Stephen Kueth Gach, chair of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, warned that intercommunal violence and climate disasters have left 2.2 million people internally displaced. Floods in 2025 could affect 4 million, worsening resource strains.
The brick-making project aims to assist 126,171 households, with 50,000 individuals directly benefiting through training and income opportunities.
Kueth called it a shift “from dependency to empowerment.”