PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
UN: UN, EU mobilize US$275 million to tackle humanitarian crisis in South Sudan
New York, US (PANA) -To tackle the humanitarian impact of the deteriorating crisis in South Sudan, the European Union and the UN on Tuesday announced that more than US$275 million has been pledged in support of the victims in the country and the wider region.
PANA at the UN headquarters in New York reports that the pledges were made during a high-level conference in Geneva organised by the European Union (EU) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on the humanitarian situation in the world’s youngest country.
According to OCHA, the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan had deteriorated relentlessly since violence broke out at the end of 2013. More than 2 million people have been internally displaced and are vulnerable to attack, gender-based violence and forced recruitment to armed groups.
It also noted that an estimated 4.6 million people were facing severe food insecurity and the start of the rainy season was increasing people’s risk of water-borne diseases and malaria.
A UN statement quoted UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Stephen O’Brien, as saying: "We must fund the aid effort adequately and enable humanitarian workers to provide basic services, namely, food, water, shelter and healthcare to people in the most difficult-to-reach locations, and it is vital to send a message of solidarity and hope to South Sudan."
He said the conflict had triggered the flight of more than half a million refugees into neighbouring Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, and more than 17,000 children had crossed borders, being separated from their families.
Mr. O’Brien, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that over the past month, the fighting had intensified in the country and there had been "completely unacceptable" attacks on UN bases where more than 140,000 people were sheltering.
Moreover, he said that eyewitness accounts and satellite images showed that the parties to the conflict were "destroying" communities in parts of Greater Upper Nile state.
He also reported that, civilians had been terrorized and forced to flee for their lives, while villages had been razed, health facilities destroyed, livestock stolen, and food taken and burned.
Also speaking at the event, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, said: "We now have more new South Sudanese refugees than when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed after decades of civil war."
"The neighbouring countries are severely impacted by this massive outflow, and humanitarian agencies lack the resources to address the enormous and growing needs.
"With a refugee population that is comprised of 70 per cent children, there is an even more urgent need to step up funding and address the most basic requirements for their protection," he explained.
On his part, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides said the pledges at the conference showed that the world had not forgotten the people of South Sudan, stating: "We are committed to alleviating their suffering."
"I witnessed this unfolding disaster first-hand just a few weeks ago. I also saw the admirable work done by humanitarian workers," he said.
"Our first priority is to save lives, but this is a man-made crisis which cannot be solved by humanitarian aid alone. A political solution is urgently needed. I call on those fighting to stop the plight imposed on their people and give full protection and access to humanitarian workers," the EU official stressed.
-0- PANA AA/MA 16June2015
PANA at the UN headquarters in New York reports that the pledges were made during a high-level conference in Geneva organised by the European Union (EU) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on the humanitarian situation in the world’s youngest country.
According to OCHA, the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan had deteriorated relentlessly since violence broke out at the end of 2013. More than 2 million people have been internally displaced and are vulnerable to attack, gender-based violence and forced recruitment to armed groups.
It also noted that an estimated 4.6 million people were facing severe food insecurity and the start of the rainy season was increasing people’s risk of water-borne diseases and malaria.
A UN statement quoted UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Stephen O’Brien, as saying: "We must fund the aid effort adequately and enable humanitarian workers to provide basic services, namely, food, water, shelter and healthcare to people in the most difficult-to-reach locations, and it is vital to send a message of solidarity and hope to South Sudan."
He said the conflict had triggered the flight of more than half a million refugees into neighbouring Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, and more than 17,000 children had crossed borders, being separated from their families.
Mr. O’Brien, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that over the past month, the fighting had intensified in the country and there had been "completely unacceptable" attacks on UN bases where more than 140,000 people were sheltering.
Moreover, he said that eyewitness accounts and satellite images showed that the parties to the conflict were "destroying" communities in parts of Greater Upper Nile state.
He also reported that, civilians had been terrorized and forced to flee for their lives, while villages had been razed, health facilities destroyed, livestock stolen, and food taken and burned.
Also speaking at the event, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, said: "We now have more new South Sudanese refugees than when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed after decades of civil war."
"The neighbouring countries are severely impacted by this massive outflow, and humanitarian agencies lack the resources to address the enormous and growing needs.
"With a refugee population that is comprised of 70 per cent children, there is an even more urgent need to step up funding and address the most basic requirements for their protection," he explained.
On his part, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides said the pledges at the conference showed that the world had not forgotten the people of South Sudan, stating: "We are committed to alleviating their suffering."
"I witnessed this unfolding disaster first-hand just a few weeks ago. I also saw the admirable work done by humanitarian workers," he said.
"Our first priority is to save lives, but this is a man-made crisis which cannot be solved by humanitarian aid alone. A political solution is urgently needed. I call on those fighting to stop the plight imposed on their people and give full protection and access to humanitarian workers," the EU official stressed.
-0- PANA AA/MA 16June2015
