UN demands $1.8bn for humanitarian assistance in S. Sudan
December 16, 2014 (JUBA) – United Nations Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Tuesday that agencies will need 1.8 billion to respond to South Sudan’s humanitarian needs next year.
“We estimate that by early next year, four point one million people will require and get help from us,” Lanzer told reporters on Tuesday.
He said agencies averted famine and helped control the spread of cholera and other diseases through cooperation and hopes that this will continue in 2015.
“And two and half million of them will be severely food insecure. It is a huge number. It will demand an incredible amount of collaboration between NGOS and UN agencies, the opposition and the government and all the authorities of this country and a lot of support from the donor community,” the top UN official said.
“There are two major challenges which are coming up and there is where I need help from everyone in South Sudan; no matter who you are and in particular to the two parties to the conflict and the followers that they have,” he added.
In 2014, donor countries led by the United States, United Kingdom and Norway, provided $1.35 billion to South Sudan. Lanzer said international support is crucial, but emphasised that South Sudanese hold the key to ending the conflict amicably.
(ST)