The United States has announced an additional $95 million in humanitarian aid to assist 700,000 people in regions of South Sudan facing severe food insecurity.
This new allocation, provided through the U.S. State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), brings the total U.S. aid to the country since October 1 to $508 million.
South Sudan, a country grappling with widespread food insecurity, has more than seven million people experiencing acute hunger, according to reports by Bloomberg News.
The situation has been further exacerbated by the influx of about 780,000 refugees from Sudan, fleeing the escalating conflict that began in April 2023.
The US Embassy in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, highlighted the dire conditions these refugees face, often arriving in South Sudan with little to no possessions and suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition.
The embassy also warned that up to 3.3 million people could be negatively impacted by flooding in South Sudan in the coming months.
South Sudan's humanitarian crisis is deeply intertwined with the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan, where a violent power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been raging since April 2023.
The conflict has led to the deaths of an estimated 150,000 people, as per US estimates.
This additional US aid is critical as the region continues to navigate the complex challenges of conflict, displacement, and natural disasters.
The funds will be used to provide essential services such as food, water, and medical assistance to those most in need.
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