South Sudan: UN, partners seek $1.4 billion for 'world's fastest growing refugee crisis'
New York, May 15 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugees and food relief agencies on Monday urged donors to step up support for people fleeing crisis-hit South Sudan as the $1.4 billion response plan remains 86 per cent unfunded.
“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 news release 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.
South Sudan has now become the world's fastest growing refugee crisis with more than 1.8 million refugees, including one million children, having sought safety in Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, the news release said.
“The suffering of the South Sudanese people is just unimaginable,” said WFP Executive Director David Beasley. “Aid workers often cannot reach the most vulnerable hungry people. Many are dying from hunger and disease, many more have fled their homeland for safety abroad.”
Humanitarian agencies are seeking $1.4 billion to provide life-saving aid to South Sudanese refugees in the six neighbouring countries until the end of 2017, according to an updated response plan presented in Geneva on Monday. But the plan so far remains only 14 per cent funded.
The current rate of people fleeing South Sudan exceeds the humanitarian community's already pessimistic estimates. For example, the number of people fleeing to Sudan in March surpassed the expected figure for the entire year. Uganda is also seeing higher than expected arrivals and at this rate is likely to soon host over one million South Sudanese refugees.
“Our funding situation forced us to cut food rations for many refugees in Uganda," Beasley said.
With acute underfunding, humanitarian agencies are struggling to provide food, water, nutrition support, shelter and health services to refugees.
Communities hosting refugees are among the world's poorest and are under immense pressure.
“Helping refugees is not just about providing emergency aid,” said UNHCR's Grandi. “It also means supporting governments and communities in neighbouring countries to shore up services and economies in the areas receiving them.”
Photo: UNHCR/Jiro Ose
Top Headlines
-
News
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif admits India's missile launch on Nur Khan airbase
May 17, 2025
-
News
India wants IMF to re-think on its funding to Pakistan: Rajnath Singh in Bhuj
May 16, 2025
-
News
Rajnath Singh to visit Bhuj airbase in Gujarat a day after slamming Pakistan over nukes
May 16, 2025
-
News
India revokes security clearance of Turkeys Celebi Aviation citing national security concerns
May 15, 2025
-
News
India to review Turkey-based Celebi Aviations airport contracts
May 15, 2025
-
News
'Go and apologise': Supreme Court slams Madhya Pradesh minister over remark against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
May 15, 2025
-
News
Are nukes safe with irresponsible and rogue nation like Pakistan?': Rajnath Singh questions world
May 15, 2025
-
News
Operation Sindoor a decisive victory that nations can study to fight state-sponsored terrorism: Urban warfare expert John Spencer
May 14, 2025
-
News
Vijaya Diagnostic Centre launches facility in Barasat near Kolkata with regions first 3T MRI
May 12, 2025
-
News
Operation Sindoor: NSA Ajit Doval meets PM Modi after overnight India-Pak military conflicts
May 10, 2025