The European Union Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, who is currently in South Sudan, yesterday announced new funding of €43.5 million in humanitarian aid in the country.

 According to the EU, the funds will be used, among others, to help those most in need, including with protection and food assistance, as well as those affected by man-made and natural disasters.

 “The humanitarian situation across South Sudan is extremely dire. Parts of this youngest African country are facing famine-like conditions and the country as a whole is bracing itself for the worst food crisis ever,” Lenarčič said in a statement. 

“There seems to be little international interest in this acute situation in the country. Only five donors, including the European Commission, account for almost 77% of the total aid to South Sudan,” Lenarčič warned. “This lack of interest risks turning this already disastrous situation into a forgotten crisis. A scale-up of the humanitarian response is urgently needed from all donors to ensure the adequate capacities are in place. Not getting things right now will make matters even worse next year with even more lives being lost.”

 According to the statement, the latest EU funding will help address acute humanitarian needs, provide humanitarian protection to communities affected by violence, and strengthen preparedness to deal with new shocks, including epidemics and natural disasters.

“With millions of children remaining out of school in South Sudan, part of the funding will also be allocated to Education in Emergencies,” the statement concluded.

 Speaking to the media after visiting parts of greater Jonglei, EU commissioner Lenarčič said, the country is experiencing the worst food insecurity ever in most parts of the country.

“The country is grappling with the worst food insecurity situation ever since its independence, people are starving. And I saw with my own eyes yesterday when I visited some localities in the state of Jonglei and Pibor,” he said. “I would like at this point to commend the many humanitarian agencies that are working very hard to alleviate the suffering of the people.”

“In this regard, the EU has done its part, has been supporting the people of South Sudan for years and today I am happy to announce that for 2021 the European Commission is mobilizing more than €46 million for life-saving humanitarian assistance in South Sudan,” he added.  

Commissioner Lenarčič warned that this will not be enough because the situation is so critical that more funding will be needed and greater mobilization of the international community is needed to scale up humanitarian response.

About his meeting with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, Lenarčič said they discussed the need to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement and that the EU is willing to fully support the implementation of the peace agreement.