UN launches 1.72-bln-USD appeal to help South Sudan people

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN's Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the humanitarian community in South Sudan launched on Wednesday an appeal of 1.72 billion U.S. dollars to assist 6 million people affected by conflict, displacement and hunger.

Since the conflict in South Sudan began in December 2013, about 4 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including nearly 1.9 million people who have been internally displaced and more than 2 million people who have fled as refugees to neighboring countries, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the daily briefing.

As the conflict continues, rates of hunger and malnutrition have risen, and food security partners report the risk of famine as significant for thousands of people in multiple areas, if early actions are not taken, said Haq.

Also marking four years since the outbreak of South Sudan's civil war, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi appealed for urgent action by all sides to settle the conflict and put an end to the country's deepening humanitarian crisis and Africa's largest refugee crisis.

The world cannot continue to stand by as the people of South Sudan are terrorized by a senseless war, said Haq, citing Grandi.

Despite all kinds of challenges, the South Sudan humanitarian operation continues to reach millions in need across the country. As of end-November, aid organizations had reached more than 5 million people since the year began, stated Alain Noudehou, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan in a news release issued by OCHA.

Noudehou thanked South Sudan's donors, who contributed over 70 percent of the plan for 2017 and called on all stakeholders to play their roles in alleviating the suffering. He highlighted the enormity of the challenge and the collective efforts for a rigorous prioritization to ensure the effectiveness of the response.

"With our collective and coordinated efforts, we will be able to effectively provide much needed assistance to the people in need. Children will remain in school. Many more will survive diseases. Livelihoods and hope will be restored. There is so much at stake," stressed Noudehou. Enditem