WFP Welcomes European Commission Support For People Affected By South Sudan Conflict
JUBA –The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution of €13 million (US$13.8 million) from the European Union to help bring lifesaving assistance to people affected by the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.
“We are grateful to the people of the European Union for these vital funds, which are a sign that the world has not forgotten the millions of people in need of help in South Sudan,” said WFP South Sudan Representative and Country Director Joyce Luma.
The €13 million contribution comes to WFP from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO). It includes €10 million (US$10.6 million) for WFP’s emergency food assistance for people displaced and otherwise affected by fighting, mainly in the states of Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity, as well as in Protection of Civilians areas (PoCs) and other areas hosting large numbers of internally displaced people.
The funds will be used to purchase sorghum, salt and specialised nutritional supplements to help prevent and treat malnutrition in children.
A further €2 million (US$2.1 million) is allocated to the Logistics Cluster, which is managed by WFP to coordinate and move relief supplies of all types for the wider humanitarian community in South Sudan.
Another €1 million (US$1.08 million) is allocated to the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which is also managed by WFP. UNHAS provides safe and reliable passenger air transport that is critical to relief work in South Sudan, especially as the majority of the country’s roads are impassable during the rainy season from May to October.
The European Union is the second largest donor to WFP in South Sudan. It has provided nearly US$50 million for WFP operations and WFP-managed common services since the start of the conflict.
Nearly 18 months of fighting has forced 2 million people from their homes, damaged farming and trade, and devastated people’s lives. Millions of people are facing increased food insecurity with the start of the lean season this month and economic hardship that is exposing more people to higher levels of poverty and vulnerability.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 75 countries.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
George Fominyen, WFP/Juba, Mob. +211 922465247
Challiss McDonough, WFP/Nairobi, Tel. +254 207 622 179, Mob. +254 707 722 104
Jane Howard, WFP/Rome, Tel. +39 06 6513 2321, Mob. +39-346-7600-521
Elisabeth Byrs, WFP/Geneva, Tel. +41 22 917 8564, Mob. +41 79 473 4570
Gregory Barrow, WFP/London, Tel. +44 20 72409001, Mob. +44 7968 008474
Bettina Luescher, WFP/New York, Tel. +1 646 5566909, Mob. +1 646 8241112
Steve Taravella, WFP/Washington DC, Tel. +1 202 653 1149, Mob. +1 202 770 5993
