The United States is set to provide an additional $95 million in humanitarian aid to support 700,000 people facing severe food insecurity in South Sudan.
According to a statement from the US Embassy in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the funds will be distributed through the US State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This latest contribution brings the total US aid to South Sudan to $508 million since October 1st.
South Sudan, which has been plagued by years of conflict and instability, is currently grappling with a severe food crisis. Over seven million people in the country are experiencing acute food insecurity, according to Bloomberg News.
The situation has been exacerbated by the arrival of approximately 780,000 refugees fleeing from neighboring Sudan since the outbreak of conflict there in April 2023.
The US Embassy highlighted the dire conditions faced by these refugees, many of whom arrive in South Sudan suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition, with little to no possessions.
The statement also warned that up to 3.3 million people across South Sudan could be negatively impacted by flooding in the coming months, further complicating the already challenging humanitarian landscape.
Sudan has been embroiled in a bloody power struggle since April 2023 between the country’s de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The conflict has claimed the lives of up to 150,000 people, according to US estimates, and has contributed to the growing refugee crisis in South Sudan.
This latest US aid package is part of a broader international effort to provide relief to those affected by the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan.
The funds will be used to deliver food, nutrition, and other essential services to those in need, as the international community continues to monitor and respond to the worsening humanitarian situation in the region.
