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UN appeals for 220 mln USD to help people in South Sudan

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, Eugene Owusu, is appealing for 220 million U.S. dollars in urgent funding before the dry season ends in May, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Wednesday.

"In the rainy season most roads become inaccessible in South Sudan for around six months and partners are forced to rely on air transport, significantly raising the cost of aid delivery," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing.

So far, only about two percent of the 1.3 billion U.S. dollars needed to provide life-saving assistance and protection to over 5 million people in the country has been received, he said.

South Sudan faces unprecedented levels of food insecurity, with 2.8 million people, nearly 25 percent of the population, in urgent need of aid, at least 40,000 of them on the brink of catastrophe, at a time when the war-torn country is traditionally most food secure, UN agencies warned Tuesday.

The numbers are expected to peak during the coming lean season, traditionally worst between April and July, when food availability is lowest. Humanitarian partners project that the lean season will start early this year, and the hunger period will be longer than in previous years. Enditem