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Around €245 million were pledged today in support of the victims of the deepening humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and the region.
The funding will translate into vital assistance for the most vulnerable people affected by the crisis.
The European Commission reaffirmed its support of €50 million announced in April, which brings its humanitarian aid to South Sudan and the neighbouring countries affected by the crisis to over €120 million for 2015.
In addition to the Commission's funding, a number of EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia, UK) pledged altogether over €70 million in support to the country.
"The pledges show that the world has not forgotten the people of South Sudan. We are 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," said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides. "Our first priority is to save lives; but this is a man-made crisis which cannot be solved by humanitarian aid alone. 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," he added.
The pledges were made today during a high-level conference organised by the EU and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva on the humanitarian situation in the world’s youngest country.
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