In order to mitigate the imminent starvation crisis in South Sudan, the United States has allocated an additional $100 million in humanitarian food assistance.
Following her visit to South Sudan, Sonali Korde, assistant to the administrator for Humanitarian Assistance at USAID, made the announcement.
“She announced an additional $100 million in U.S. government humanitarian food assistance for the South Sudanese people,” the U.S. Embassy stated in a brief press release seen by The Radio Community.
“This additional life-saving humanitarian assistance—made possible through a partnership between USAID and the U.S. Department of Agriculture—will provide nearly 42,000 metric tons of assistance to approximately one million people experiencing acute food insecurity.”
This brings the total U.S. government humanitarian assistance to South Sudan to nearly $609 million in Fiscal Year 2024.
It stated that ending the humanitarian crisis in the country requires urgent action. This includes the transitional government fulfilling its responsibilities and transparently allocating public revenue for humanitarian response and other basic public needs.
The U.S. embassy urged the government to improve the country's security.
“The transitional government must also address the unacceptably high safety and security risks faced by UN agencies, NGO partners, and local communities,” the embassy demanded.
The embassy also called on the parties to the peace agreement to work towards achieving sustainable peace.
“Peace is a critical element in preventing increased humanitarian crisis,” the embassy emphasized.
“The Embassy welcomes the Tumaini Initiative talks in Nairobi and urges all signatories to the 2018 peace agreement as well as non-signatories to take advantage of this opportunity to advance peace.”
It further stated, “It is also essential that interparty direct talks take place at the leadership level in Juba as well.”