20 June 2013 - The South Sudanese government and humanitarian partners implemented up to 90 per cent of their plans for the first six months of the year but many challenges remain, officials said in Juba today during a presentation of the mid-year review of South Sudan's humanitarian Consolidated Appeal.

"While the needs of many vulnerable communities in South Sudan stabilized in the first months of 2013, thanks to an improved harvest and lower than expected numbers of refugee and returnee arrivals, there are areas where we see a downturn," said UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan Toby Lanzer.

"Hostilities have displaced tens of thousands of people and shattered livelihoods in parts of Jonglei," he added, noting that Pibor County is a leading cause of concern among aid agencies. "We are also now in the lean season and 2.2 million people need food and livelihoods assistance."

Aid agencies in South Sudan will require $485 million through the end of 2013 to help three million people survive and rebuild their lives, according to the mid-year review of the UN's largest aid operation in Africa.

Developed by the government and 114 humanitarian partners including UN agencies and non-governmental organizations, the Consolidated Appeal for South Sudan sought $1.16 billion from donors to address urgent humanitarian needs in the country when it was launched last November. That figure was subsequently reduced to $1.05 billion.

A press release from the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that donors had contributed some $567 million by the middle of June, leaving a shortfall of $485 million.

"The contribution of the United Nations agencies and their partners to end suffering and give hope to the people of South Sudan is significant," said Peter Lam Both, Chairperson of the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission. "The government will work with all concerned to make sure that aid agencies can carry out their vital work."

Among the achievements of aid agencies highlighted by the OCHA press release were the delivery of food and livelihoods support to 821,000 people and health consultations for 772,000 people.

"During the rainy season, which poses huge logistical challenges, we plan to fulfill our commitment to civilians in need," said Mr. Lanzer. "We now seek the continued generosity of donors."