UN provides 15mln USD to support aid operations in S. Sudan

The UN humanitarian agency said Monday it has allocated 15 million U.S. dollars to support the most critical life-saving aid operations in South Sudan.

The funding which is the second allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to South Sudan in 2014 brings the total CERF funding to the crisis this year to 30.3 million dollars.

"The people of South Sudan are in desperate need of help. Despite political efforts to find a solution to the conflict, the fighting continues, causing people to flee elsewhere or to other countries," UN Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Valerie Amos said in a statement.

The statement said the CERF funds will go to the most critical relief projects including vaccination and nutrition programs and food distribution.

Fighting erupted in the world's youngest country which only gained independence in 2011 after seceding from Sudan, on December 15 last year when President Salva Kiir said soldiers loyal to former deputy president Riek Machar, dismissed last July, reportedly launched an attempted coup.

Almost five million people are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance in South Sudan including over 800,000 people who are internally displaced.