16 June 2015 - To help tackle the humanitarian impact of crisis in South Sudan, the European Union (EU) and UN today announced that more than $275 million had been pledged to support victims in the country and wider region.

The pledges were made during a high-level conference in Geneva, organized by the EU and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on the humanitarian situation in the country.

According to OCHA, more than two million people have been internally displaced, more than half a million have fled to neighbouring countries and more than 17,000 children have crossed borders, becoming separated from their families. An estimated 4.6 million people are facing severe food insecurity and the start of the rainy season is increasing the risk of water-borne diseases and malaria.

Speaking ahead of the Geneva event, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien said fighting had intensified over the past month, forcing civilians to flee for their lives and resulting in razed villages, destroyed health facilities, stolen livestock, food taken and burned.

“We must fund the aid effort adequately and enable humanitarian workers to provide basic services – food, water, shelter and healthcare – to people in the most difficult-to-reach locations,” said Mr. O’Brien, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator. “It is vital to send a message of solidarity and hope to South Sudan.”

“We now have more new South Sudanese refugees than when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed after decades of civil war,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.

Mr. O’Brien noted that neighbouring countries were severely impacted by this massive outflow and humanitarian agencies lacked the resources to address the enormous and growing needs.

“With a refugee population that is comprised of 70 per cent children, there is an even more urgent need to step up funding and address the most basic requirements for their protection,” he said.

EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said the conference pledges showed that the world had not forgotten the people of South Sudan and was committed to alleviating their suffering.

“I witnessed this unfolding disaster first-hand just a few weeks ago. I also saw the admirable work done by humanitarian workers,” he said.

“Our first priority is to save lives, but this is a man-made crisis which cannot be solved by humanitarian aid alone,” Mr. Stylianides added. “A political solution is urgently needed. I call on those fighting to stop the plight imposed on their people and give full protection and access to humanitarian workers.”