US official to attend South Sudan crisis meeting in Kenya

February 7, 2015 (NAIROBI) – The US assistant secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Anne C. Richard, will travel to Kenya on 9 February to attend a high-level meeting on the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and its impact on the region.

At the event, scheduled for 9 to 11 February, concerned countries will reportedly discuss ways the international humanitarian community can better assist the displaced and other vulnerable South Sudanese made victims of conflict and pledge initial support for 2015.

“While in Kenya, Assistant Secretary Richard will also review regional humanitarian issues with a range of UN agencies, international and non-governmental organizations, and refugee representatives,” partly reads a statement issued by the spokesperson for the US State Department.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced by South Sudanese violent conflict, which broke out in December 2013.

Since this crisis started, however, the US government has reportedly provided more than $720 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by the South Sudan crisis in form of food, water, medical care, agricultural support, and protection for people in need within South Sudan as well as those seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

“While the United States remains deeply committed to assisting the people of South Sudan, we note humanitarian aid can only be effective if the Government of South Sudan, opposition forces, and all other parties to the conflict stop fighting and remove obstacles to delivery of life-saving assistance,” the 6 February statement said.

(ST)