Israel sends urgent humanitarian aid to South Sudan amid deadly cholera outbreak

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that Israel will send humanitarian aid to South Sudan amidst its ongoing cholera outbreak.

“In light of the severe humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, and under the guidance of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, MASHAV – Israel’s national aid agency at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – will deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations in the country,” the Foreign Ministry posted on 𝕏.

“South Sudan is currently struggling with a cholera outbreak and facing a severe shortage of resources,” the post continued.

“The aid will include essential medical supplies for treating patients, water purification equipment, gloves and face masks, as well as special hygiene kits to prevent cholera. In addition, food packages will be distributed.”

The statement was accompanied by a photo from a recent meeting in Jerusalem between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his South Sudanese counterpart, Semarang Kamba.

Recent reports have indicated that South Sudan is one of several countries in talks with Israel to potentially receive displaced Gazans, along with Ethiopia, Libya, another unnamed African nation, and Indonesia.

South Sudan subsequently denied the reports, saying that “these claims are baseless.” However, Reuters later cited anonymous sources who contradicted South Sudan’s public denial, stating that the talks were, in fact, ongoing.

Israel has long maintained ties with South Sudan, formally establishing diplomatic relations just two weeks after the republic declared independence in 2011.

In the late 1960s, Israel supported the South Sudanese rebel group Anya-Nya, which sought to establish independence of the majority-Christian south from the Sudanese Arab, Islamic government centered in northern Sudan.

Israel later established ties to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement through its military wing, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).

Salva Kiir, who became the SPLA’s commander in chief in 2005, eventually became South Sudan’s first president and has retained the presidency to this day.

Shortly after the nation’s founding on July 9, 2011, Kiir visited Israel.

“I am very moved to be in Israel and to walk on the soil of the Promised Land, and with me are all South Sudanese people,” Kiir said during the visit.

“Israel has always supported the South Sudanese people. Without you, we would not have arisen. You struggled alongside us in order to allow the establishment of South Sudan and we are interested in learning from your experience.”

Despite the longstanding relationship, Israel sent its first official delegation to South Sudan only last week.

Critics of the relationship cite widespread reports of human rights abuses committed by the government of South Sudan since its founding.

A report from The Times of Israel noted that the South Sudan government “has used Israeli arms and surveillance equipment to crack down on its opponents.”