UN supports S. Sudanese refugees in Kenya
March 9, 2014 (JUBA) – The United Nations has earmarked $4.6m to support South Sudanese refugees who fled the country’s violence into neighbouring Kenya, an official said.
Mathew Conley, a public information and humanitarian affairs officer for the world body said the donation would help to provide child protection services, clean water and food, sanitation, shelter and vaccination campaigns at the camp.
He said the money to be released in a few days time, was emergency funding meant to provide basic assistance to South Sudanese refugees who fled the country during the recent conflict.
“This money is specifically targeted in the domains of child protection. You know we are receiving a lot of unaccompanied minors who are arriving in Kakuma,” Conley noted in a statement, adding that hundreds of people continued to arrive at the camp daily.
More than 50,000 refugees, according to a recent UN report, have so far been registered in Kakuma, with the numbers expected to rise due to continuous influx of people.
Violence broke out in the South Sudan capital, Juba in mid-December last year following a dispute between the country’s presidential guard units. About 10,000 people, estimates show, have died with nearly a million displaced due to the conflict.
Toby Lanzer, the UN humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan recently warned that the country may soon “collapse” if immediate actions are not taken to help the people from the current political turmoil.
(ST)