The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D, and Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr. Ciarán Cannon, T.D., today announced Irish funding of €3 million for severe humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, is today among the most fragile states in the world. The conflict, which started in 2013, has resulted in large-scale displacement, food insecurity and malnutrition. Over half the population, 7 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance and the UN estimates that almost two-thirds of the population are at risk of rising hunger. The South Sudan crisis is the largest refugee crisis in Africa. Almost 4 million people have been forced to leave their homes, with 2 million people displaced internally and 2 million refugees in neighbouring countries
Announcing the funding, the Tánaiste said:
The ongoing conflict in the world’s youngest country is causing severe and widespread humanitarian suffering. Ireland will continue to support the international humanitarian response to the crisis, as well as supporting efforts to halt the on-going conflict driving it. We urgently need to turn the tide of human suffering in South Sudan through reaching political resolution to the conflict.
Minister of State Cannon added:
As well as providing support to our UN humanitarian partners, Irish Aid has also consistently supported the humanitarian work of many of our NGO partners through our Humanitarian Programme Plan, including Trócaire, World Vision Ireland, Concern and Oxfam. We are proud of the work our NGO partners do to alleviate the suffering of the people of South Sudan.
In 2017, Ireland provided funding of almost €12 million to support efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering in South Sudan. As well as providing support to our UN humanitarian partners (UN South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF, WFP and UNHCR), funding was also provided to support the work of Trócaire, World Vision, Concern, GOAL, Oxfam, Christian Aid, Plan International and the International Rescue Committee.
Now in 2018, Ireland is again supporting the UN-managed Humanitarian Pooled Fund, which ensures that the most urgent needs can be met quickly, be they for food, shelter, health or protection for the most vulnerable.