Central Emergency Response Fund allocates another US$15 million for South Sudan

(New York, 11 April 2014): The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Valerie Amos, has allocated US$15 million to support the most critical life-saving aid operations in South Sudan.

This is the second allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to South Sudan in 2014, bringing the total CERF funding to the crisis this year to $30.3 million.

“The people of South Sudan are in desperate need of help,” said ERC Amos. “Despite political efforts to find a solution to the conflict, the fighting continues, causing people to flee elsewhere or to other countries.”

Almost 5 million people are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance in South Sudan including over 800,000 people who are internally displaced. Some 280,000 South Sudanese are also seeking refuge in neighbouring countries; CERF has provided funding to address humanitarian needs in Ethiopia ($6 million), Kenya ($4.6 million), Sudan ($6.5 million) and Uganda ($6.9 million).

With the rainy season fast approaching, aid agencies expect conditions will deteriorate rapidly in South Sudan. Malnutrition rates and the risk of diseases such as cholera and malaria are already extremely high, especially among displaced people. The CERF funds will go to the most critical relief projects including vaccination and nutrition programmes and food distribution. UN agencies and humanitarian partners need over $1.2 billion for aid efforts this year but have only received 36 per cent ($462 million) of the funding so far.

“Time is running out. If we don’t have the money and people we need to scale-up relief efforts now we will be putting the lives of millions of South Sudanese at risk. Some 3.7 million people are already at risk of food insecurity,” Ms Amos said.

Since South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, aid agencies in South Sudan have received almost $89.4 million from CERF for critical assistance, including food, clean water, shelter and health services.

CERF is a fund of contributions from donors which makes money available immediately to start relief work when needs arise. Since 2006, 125 UN Member States and dozens of private-sector donors and regional Governments have contributed $3.54 billion to the fund. CERF has allocated more than $3.4 billion for humanitarian agencies operating in 88 countries and territories.