South Sudan defends law that aid agencies say could be "catastrophic" – TRFN
By Magdalena Mis LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – South Sudan has defended a law limiting the number of foreign aid workers that can work in the country despite concerns from relief groups that the move could have "potentially catastrophic effects" for the millions of people who need help. The law, which is awaiting President Salva Kiir's signature after being passed on Tuesday, requires non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to limit foreign employees, including those at senior level, to one fifth of their staff in the country. For NGOs that come to South Sudan there must be provisions … for local citizens," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from South Sudan on Friday. "If the bill is implemented in a way that creates a more regressive environment, then this will have potentially catastrophic effects for the large amounts of the South Sudanese population that rely on NGOs to provide basic services and life saving aid," South Sudan NGO Forum said in a statement.
