US pledges $273m for humanitarian assistance in S. Sudan
February 9, 2015 (NAIROBI) – The United States announced on Monday nearly $273 million in new humanitarian assistance for the population uprooted and imperiled by the conflict in South Sudan.
Over 2.5 million people in South Sudan risk facing famine, United Nations officials said Monday, as they launched a $1.8 million humanitarian appeal to avert any possible catastrophe in the country.
Senior US officials joined other countries in Kenya to pledge support for South Sudan’s internally displaced population, those who have fled to neighboring countries, and others suffering from the conflict.
This latest contribution underscores America’s long-standing commitment, one predating the current, senseless conflict, to the people of South Sudan, the US Department of State said.
“With this additional contribution, US assistance to the people affected by this conflict, both those inside South Sudan and in neighboring countries is nearly $1 billion,” it added.
More than two million people have been displaced internally and as refugees and thousands killed as a result of the over a year conflict.
The new funding will reportedly help feed the most affected people and provide specialty nutrition supplements for children suffering from malnutrition, avail seeds, tools, and agricultural training to farmers and boost emergency health services for the conflict victims.
The grant, officials said, will increase the availability of water and sanitation services, support medical and psychosocial services to survivors of gender-based violence, increase access to emergency education for refugee children, build and expand new refugee camps, and provide basic household goods for refugees in the region.
“Aid can only be effective if it reaches those who need it most. As the peace process continues, all sides of this conflict urgently need to give immediate, full and unconditional access to aid agencies working to help all of South Sudan’s people,” said the release.
“Without this access, conditions in South Sudan will only worsen, risking both famine and further cycles of violence,” it added.
Washington, however, said humanitarian assistance alone will not help end the conflict and appealed to the country’s warring parties to bear full responsibility for this man-made crisis and the suffering of their fellow South Sudanese.
“South Sudan’s leaders can end this suffering by concentrating on the security and welfare of their people and making the needed compromises to reach a final agreement when peace talks resume on February 20,” said the 9 February statement.
The crisis it said, needs a truly multi-donor response and urged other donors to increase their contributions for humanitarian operations in South Sudan and the region.
(ST).