South Sudan: $56.5 million for aid and emergency preparedness | WPN World People News

The South Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund today allocated $56.5 million for aid and emergency preparedness, enabling the humanitarian community to respond to humanitarian needs and, at the same time, to preposition aid before the rains cut off 60 per cent of the country.

Speaking in the presence of humanitarian actors and donors, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Toby Lanzer, noted that “The Common Humanitarian Fund is a vital tool to kick start the humanitarian operation at a critical time of need when the South Sudan Consolidated Appeal is less than 15% funded.”

During the 2012 rainy season, timely supply of life-saving aid to people in urgent need proved difficult as up to 60 per cent of the country became inaccessible due to seasonal flooding and poor roads.

Today’s allocation will directly benefit up to 1.5 million people. It will boost food security and livelihoods, education, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and protection in highly vulnerable areas. It will provide nutrition to children and non-food items for those displaced by violence or seasonal floods.

The South Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund was established in 2012 to support timely allocation and disbursement of donor funding, in order to address critical humanitarian needs. It is a financing tool that channels funding towards the most urgent priorities and ensures that funds are available for rapid response to critical humanitarian emergencies. It is managed by the Humanitarian Coordinator, with support from an Advisory Board comprising donors, UN, and NGO representatives. To date, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom have all provided generously to the fund.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs