PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Tanzania: Hunger threatens millions due to massive funding gap for South Sudan
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Donors attending Tuesday’s Geneva pledging conference for South Sudan should address a massive funding shortfall – more than US$1.1 billion of the humanitarian response - in order to avert immense suffering for millions of people, humanitarian agencies have said.
US$200 million out of the US$529 million that was pledged at a similar conference in Nairobi in February 2015 was yet to reach the people who desperately need it, the agencies added in a statement made available to PANA here.
Almost 8 million (7.9m) people in South Sudan are hungry now and aid agencies - CARE, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, Mercy Corp, Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council, CAFOD and Christian Aid – have warned that hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese could lose access to often life-saving assistance if donors do not deliver on their previous commitments, and also quickly disburse new funding.
Zlatko Gegic, Country Director for Oxfam in South Sudan, said: "The hunger season is starting now. Governments can make a difference by committing urgent funding for emergency needs to save thousands of lives and prevent further suffering for millions of South Sudanese. Families need help now.”
Collectively, the eight agencies require US$123 million to reach 3.8 million people with assistance by the end of December 2015. So far, they have a budget shortfall of US$39.4 million.
Aimee Ansari, Country Director for CARE South Sudan, said: “While needs have risen dramatically, funding hasn’t. Those who need help the most, particularly in remote communities - many of them cut off by fighting – may also end up being cut off from humanitarian aid.”
According to Ronald-Paul Veilleux, Country Director for International Rescue Committee, “hundreds of thousands of children are malnourished, at risk of disease and death, yet they are the future doctors, lawyers, civil servants and community leaders of South Sudan. Failure to get aid to them in time, would further undermine the development potential of the nation."
Humanitarian organizations have helped millions of South Sudanese access food, clean water, medicine, education, livelihood support and protection, according to Mohammed Qazilbash, Country Director for Mercy Corps in South Sudan. “However, if donors continue to delay, South Sudanese may plunge back into crisis,” he said.
Increased fighting in Unity and Upper Nile states has forced the agencies to suspend activities and in some cases relocate staff, leaving thousands of people vulnerable.
“Recent violence has driven civilians further away from assistance,” said Jane Andanje, Country Director for CAFOD Trócaire. “Aid supplies have also been looted. Delayed funding sets back the resumption of response activities meaning vulnerable communities lack help at a time they need it the most.”
In a joint statement, the eight aid organizations have condemned “in the strongest terms the appalling increase in violence in Unity and Upper Nile States.”
“The UN Mission in South Sudan mandated with protecting civilians must continue to give sanctuary to those fleeing violence and increase regular patrols where civilians are at high risk,” they appealed.
In addition, the statement urged donors to maintain and support long-term development programmes to protect hard-won gains and ensure people in less conflict-affected areas continue to have improved access to food and diversified livelihood opportunities.
South Sudanese continue to seek refuge in neighbouring countries -- Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan -- with 60,000 fleeing this year alone. Over half a million South Sudanese are currently refugees in the region.
Humanitarian agencies insist that regional and international governments should increase pressure on the warring parties to allow people to leave areas of conflict and access aid safely, while all acts of sexual violence must be brought to an end.
“We continue to appeal to the warring parties to lay down their arms, urgently reinvigorate the peace process and ensure a lasting, inclusive peace deal is forged to avert further suffering for the people of South Sudan,” said the statement.
By the end of July, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has predicted that 40% of South Sudan’s total population (4.6 million) will be severely food insecure.
Food prices have shot up by a massive 40% between January and April this year.
The UN has estimated that to fully meet the needs of South Sudanese affected by the crisis, US$1.63 billion is needed. Only 36% of the response has been funded to date while the South Sudanese regional refugee response is only 11% funded.
-0- PANA AR/VAO 16June2015
US$200 million out of the US$529 million that was pledged at a similar conference in Nairobi in February 2015 was yet to reach the people who desperately need it, the agencies added in a statement made available to PANA here.
Almost 8 million (7.9m) people in South Sudan are hungry now and aid agencies - CARE, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, Mercy Corp, Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council, CAFOD and Christian Aid – have warned that hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese could lose access to often life-saving assistance if donors do not deliver on their previous commitments, and also quickly disburse new funding.
Zlatko Gegic, Country Director for Oxfam in South Sudan, said: "The hunger season is starting now. Governments can make a difference by committing urgent funding for emergency needs to save thousands of lives and prevent further suffering for millions of South Sudanese. Families need help now.”
Collectively, the eight agencies require US$123 million to reach 3.8 million people with assistance by the end of December 2015. So far, they have a budget shortfall of US$39.4 million.
Aimee Ansari, Country Director for CARE South Sudan, said: “While needs have risen dramatically, funding hasn’t. Those who need help the most, particularly in remote communities - many of them cut off by fighting – may also end up being cut off from humanitarian aid.”
According to Ronald-Paul Veilleux, Country Director for International Rescue Committee, “hundreds of thousands of children are malnourished, at risk of disease and death, yet they are the future doctors, lawyers, civil servants and community leaders of South Sudan. Failure to get aid to them in time, would further undermine the development potential of the nation."
Humanitarian organizations have helped millions of South Sudanese access food, clean water, medicine, education, livelihood support and protection, according to Mohammed Qazilbash, Country Director for Mercy Corps in South Sudan. “However, if donors continue to delay, South Sudanese may plunge back into crisis,” he said.
Increased fighting in Unity and Upper Nile states has forced the agencies to suspend activities and in some cases relocate staff, leaving thousands of people vulnerable.
“Recent violence has driven civilians further away from assistance,” said Jane Andanje, Country Director for CAFOD Trócaire. “Aid supplies have also been looted. Delayed funding sets back the resumption of response activities meaning vulnerable communities lack help at a time they need it the most.”
In a joint statement, the eight aid organizations have condemned “in the strongest terms the appalling increase in violence in Unity and Upper Nile States.”
“The UN Mission in South Sudan mandated with protecting civilians must continue to give sanctuary to those fleeing violence and increase regular patrols where civilians are at high risk,” they appealed.
In addition, the statement urged donors to maintain and support long-term development programmes to protect hard-won gains and ensure people in less conflict-affected areas continue to have improved access to food and diversified livelihood opportunities.
South Sudanese continue to seek refuge in neighbouring countries -- Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan -- with 60,000 fleeing this year alone. Over half a million South Sudanese are currently refugees in the region.
Humanitarian agencies insist that regional and international governments should increase pressure on the warring parties to allow people to leave areas of conflict and access aid safely, while all acts of sexual violence must be brought to an end.
“We continue to appeal to the warring parties to lay down their arms, urgently reinvigorate the peace process and ensure a lasting, inclusive peace deal is forged to avert further suffering for the people of South Sudan,” said the statement.
By the end of July, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has predicted that 40% of South Sudan’s total population (4.6 million) will be severely food insecure.
Food prices have shot up by a massive 40% between January and April this year.
The UN has estimated that to fully meet the needs of South Sudanese affected by the crisis, US$1.63 billion is needed. Only 36% of the response has been funded to date while the South Sudanese regional refugee response is only 11% funded.
-0- PANA AR/VAO 16June2015
