The UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA) needs $1.7 billion to help 6.8 million vulnerable South Sudanese affected by conflict, climatic shocks and protracted displacement across the country, an official has said.
In November, UNOCHA estimated that 9.4 million will need urgent life-saving assistance and protection in 2023, compared to 8.9 million in 2022.
It said over two-thirds of South Sudan’s population will need humanitarian and protection assistance in 2023. Eight million people will be severely food-insecure at the peak of the lean season between April and July.
Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, said the ongoing conflict and floods continue to increase people’s vulnerabilities noting that while the South Sudan crisis is competing with other global emergencies and dwindling funding.
Several reports suggest that flooding has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, killed millions of animals and destroyed thousands of acres of crops – worsening the situation of the vulnerable people.
The worst affected states are Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, Unity, Warrap, Western Equatoria, and Lakes states and Abyei Special Administrative Area.
“The people of South Sudan deserve more, and not just efforts that allow them to survive,” Nyanti said during the launch of humanitarian response plan for 2023 on Tuesday.
“Our immediate priorities in 2023 include sustaining our response to people with urgent humanitarian and protection needs, especially women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
“Humanitarian partners need unimpeded and safe access to deliver timely and essential life-saving assistance. We also need urgent funding to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.” Nyanti asked.
UN agencies and the international communities continue to express the humanitarian concerns that are inflicted by the ongoing violence in Upper Nile region, which has reportedly displaced 40,000 people.
