Thousands of children at risk as funding collapses in South Sudan: UNICEF

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned Friday that a 128 million U.S. dollar gap in funding is endangering the lives of thousands of children in war-torn South Sudan.

"This forgotten emergency is threatening the lives of tens of thousands of children," UNICEF representative in South Sudan Jonathan Veitch said in a statement.

"The reality is that without adequate support we will simply not be able to provide the services that are needed to prevent children dying from malnutrition, diarrhoea, malaria and vaccine-preventable diseases," he added.

To date, only 18 percent, or 27 million U.S. dollars, of UNICEF's 155-million-U.S.-dollar appeal has been funded.

The gap means that 3,3 million children will not be vaccinated against measles, 260,000 conflict-affected children will not be supported to return to school and efforts to reunite 7,300 separated children with their families will be stopped.

Essential food and nutrition supplies are expected to run out in August, UNICEF indicated.

Now in its third year, the conflict raging in the world's youngest nation has spread to previously peaceful areas in western parts of the African country, including Wau and Western Equatoria.

The threat of famine also looms over 40,000 people severely affected by violence in Unity State with the height of the lean season arriving in May.

Child malnutrition rates in South Sudan's capital Juba are already three times higher than in surrounding rural areas as a result of skyrocketing food prices.

"For the first time since the crisis began, children are being threatened not by a lack of access or capacity, but by a lack of funds," Veitch highlighted.

"Humanitarian aid is now the only thing standing between survival and total destitution for many families. Funding is needed now if the youngest members of the world's youngest nation are to have a future," he concluded. Endit