$485m needed to save lives in South Sudan, UN says

June 20, 2013 (JUBA) – At least $485m is needed by aid agencies operating in South Sudan to enable three million people survive and rebuild their lives up to end of year, the United Nations said.

“While the needs of many vulnerable communities in South Sudan stabilized in the first months of 2013, thanks to an improved harvest and lower than expected numbers of refugee and returnee arrivals, there are areas where we see a downturn”, said Toby Lanzer, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.

The top UN official said hostilities, in parts of Jonglei state, had displaced tens of thousands of people and shattered livelihoods.

“We are also now in the lean season and 2.2 million people need food and livelihoods assistance”, he stressed.

Peter Lam Both, the head of country’s relief and rehabilitation commission lauded the UN and its partners’ contribution to the plight of the population in South Sudan.

“The contribution of the United Nations agencies and their partners to end suffering and give hope to the people of South Sudan is significant, and we in the Government will work with all concerned to make sure that aid agencies can carry out their vital work”, said Lam.

Meanwhile, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations, working in close coordination with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, as well as the country’s relief agency, have reportedly been able to implement up to 90% of their plans for the first six months of the year, despite working in one of the toughest environments anywhere in the world.

Aid agencies, UN said, provided food and livelihoods support to some 821,000 people; carried out 772,000 health consultations; helped some 224,000 refugees and 40,000 returnees to rebuild their lives; cleared over 900 km of roads of mines; and put over 22,000 children into emergency education.

“During the rainy season, which poses huge logistical challenges, we plan to fulfill our commitment to civilians in need, and we now seek the continued generosity of donors,” Lanzer told journalists at press briefing Thursday.

“The thorough review resulted in a 9% reduction in overall requirements from $1.16bn to $1.05bn. As of mid-June, donors had contributed some $567 million, leaving a gap of $485 million”, he said, adding that 30% of this is needed for immediate priority projects to help people survive.

Violence, the UN said, is likely to displace up to 200,000 people in South Sudan, this year.

(ST)