The United Nations has issued an aid appeal to international donors to help raise $1.4 billion to be channeled towards helping South Sudanese fleeing war in the violence rid country.
According to the UN refugee agency, only 14 percent of the money required has been obtained so far, though the South Sudanese are in dire need of assistance.
“Bitter conflict and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in South Sudan are driving people from their homes in record numbers,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, in a statement jointly issued by his office (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The situation in South Sudan continues to worsen, with a combination of conflict, drought and famine leading to further displacement and a rapid exodus of people fleeing one of the world’s most severe crises.
Earlier this year, the UN named South Sudan as Africa’s biggest refugee crisis, and third worldwide after Syria and Afghanistan.
The world’s youngest nation descended into war in 2013 December after President Salva Kiir accused his then-deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup against his government. Machar refuted the claims but then went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
According to the statement, more than 1.8 million refugees, including one million children, have sought safety in Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.
It also said that some refugees have already been denied food rations due to lack of funding.
“Our funding situation forced us to cut food rations for many refugees in Uganda,” Mr. Beasley said.
Earlier this year, famine was declared in parts of South Sudan, attributed to the long drought and the continued war that made farming impossible.
Humanitarian agencies say the $1.4 billion will provide life-saving aid to South Sudanese refugees in the six neighbouring countries until the end of 2017.
