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Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Humanitarian aid

Western envoys appalled over humanitarian situation in Sudan

On May 1, 2023, civilians who escaped the conflict-ridden Sudan sought refuge at the UNHCR transit center located in Renk, near the border crossing point in Renk County, Upper Nile State. (Reuters)

On May 1, 2023, civilians who escaped the conflict-ridden Sudan sought refuge at the UNHCR transit center located in Renk, near the border crossing point in Renk County, Upper Nile State. (Reuters photo)

September 13, 2023 (JUBA) – Western envoys on Wednesday expressed concerns over the dire humanitarian situation of people fleeing the conflict in Sudan, urging South Sudan government to increase its financial contribution to those in need.

“We are appalled by the conflict in Sudan which has created dire additional humanitarian needs and has placed an extra burden on South Sudanese people”, partly reads a joint statement from the United States, Germany, Norway, British, Sweden, Canada, France, Netherlands and the European Union envoys.

Western nations have provided over $1 billion in humanitarian assistance this year.

The envoys, in the joint statement, urged South Sudan Government to take concrete steps to reduce the costs of delivering aid, worsened by checkpoints and other illicit efforts to extort revenues from humanitarian operations.

This requires the government to back efforts to ease suffering and save lives in the country by increasing its financial contribution to humanitarian needs, it stressed.

According to the envoy, ending humanitarian crisis requires an environment conducive to substantial economic growth as well as reduced dependency.

“Such an environment will only be possible if the transitional government meets its peace commitment, introduces accountability, and prioritizes the use of public revenue to meet public needs”, it added.

This is the second time in which western diplomats in South Sudan have expressed concerns with the way the conflict in Sudan is affecting countries in the region.

Five months of fighting between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have forced 259,451 individuals into South Sudan, the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) said.

According to OCHA, Joda/Renk border remains the main point of entry for about 97 percent of new arrivals, including returnees, refugees and asylum-seekers.

At least $139.4 million, it further said, needed by the World Food Program (WFP) to provide life-saving food and nutrition assistance for new arrivals as well as support the humanitarian response through the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).

The humanitarian agency also said it paused the general onward transportation from Joda to Renk town on September 3, citing temporary funding constraints.

Meanwhile, OCHA said it has revised its emergency response plan for the Sudan crisis and requires $356 million from May to December to address people’s critical priorities, including onward transport assistance to preferred final destinations, life-saving humanitarian assistance on arrival and during transit for 600,000 individuals.

Last week, the UN humanitarian agency said more than 7 million people have been displaced inside and outside Sudan due to the conflict between rival military factions.

(ST)

 

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