The humanitarian community in South Sudan is calling for urgent funding to ensure continued support for onward transportation for people fleeing the Sudan conflict to South Sudan.
The humanitarian partners in South Sudan urgently require US$26.4 million to continue providing transportation support until the end of the year.
The Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Peter Van der Auweraert, stated that Funds are, however, dwindling rapidly, and without new funding, humanitarian agencies will be forced to halt transportation assistance in two weeks’ time.
“Many of those arriving in South Sudan are increasingly vulnerable with no financial resources to continue their journey inside the country,” said Peter Van der
Until now, National and State-level Authorities together with the humanitarian community have been able to provide onward transportation assistance to those without means so that they can reach their final destinations by road, river, or air.
He added that funding shortfalls have already forced the National Authorities to cease assistance.
“It is quite straightforward, everyday support for onward transportation is unavailable, hundreds more will become stranded in and around border towns like Renk, with already overstretched humanitarian services becoming overwhelmed within a matter of days, not weeks,” warned Peter Van der Auweraert.
“Unless we find a way to continue supporting onward transportation, we will soon be in a situation whereby the living conditions for people arriving become ever more dire and
“South Sudan needs additional support from international donors, and the National Authorities restart their support for onward transportation. Only a joint effort will avoid the humanitarian catastrophe we are all afraid of,” highlighted the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator.
Since the outbreak of hostilities in Sudan on 15 April, over 193,000 people have crossed into South Sudan.
In June 2023, the number of new arrivals surged significantly, with approximately 15,000 individuals arriving from Sudan every week Sudan through Renk’s Wunthow border entry point.
An estimated 9.4 million people, 76 percent of South Sudan’s population, are projected to need humanitarian and/or protection assistance in 2023.
According to the UN reports, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan requires US$1.7 billion to reach 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people with urgent vital support but only 39.4 percent of the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan is funded.