June 10, 2024 (JUBA) – At least $20 million from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF) has been earmarked to provide life-saving assistance to 290,000 of the most vulnerable people in Aweil East in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Nasir in Upper Nile, Rubkona in Unity, and Pibor in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
The Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho said the fund will strengthen the resilience of communities affected by the conflict in war-hit Sudan.
“People in these areas are facing some of the most extreme conditions in the country and need support. This allocation will help address their most urgent food security needs and strengthen the resilience of host communities and people who have returned home fleeing the conflict in Sudan,” she stated.
Gbeho said the first standard allocation of the year comes at a critical time to avert a further deterioration of living conditions for the people benefitting from the support.
This is particularly critical from August onwards, when the effects of the lean season are expected to manifest in increased malnutrition rates and food insecurity levels. This allocation emphasizes the participation of affected communities to ensure the chosen activities reflect their priorities and respond to urgent life-saving needs and improve resilience through livelihood support.
The allocation is also intended to increase direct funding to national non-governmental organizations to promote localization and empower grassroots organizations.
“We are very grateful for continued donor contributions, which mean that we can help people who are facing acute needs. We request a further injection of funding to continue saving lives and to support recovery and resilience activities of communities,” said Gbeho.
The $20 million allocation will reportedly build on and complement earlier funding allocations, including the $16 million released from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in September 2023 for famine prevention and the $17 million allocated from the SSHF the same year for famine prevention in Rubkona County.
Out of the $8.1 million earmarked for the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for South Sudan, less than 20 per cent fund has so far been received.
(ST)
