14 January 2014 - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced during a visit to Addis Ababa that his country would be offering assistance of about $25 million to South Sudan, according to a statement issued today by the Japanese Embassy in Juba.

Some $20 million would respond to the urgent appeal made by the United Nations on 31 December 2013 to cover pressing humanitarian needs stipulated in the Response Plan, like food and nutrition, health, water and sanitation, protection, logistics and refugees, said the statement.

"Japan has been gravely concerned over the dire humanitarian situation throughout South Sudan,” said Japanese Ambassador Japan to South Sudan Takeshi Akamatsu. “Our assistance … should contribute to improving the difficult situation that many South Sudanese civilians have been facing."

Japan supported efforts made by relevant countries and institutions, particularly the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), towards a peaceful resolution of the situation and called on parties of South Sudan to sincerely respond to the efforts, the statement said.