UNICEF South Sudan has today sent an appeal for US$ 75 million as part of its Humanitarian Action for Children 2014 (HAC) appeal. At the same time, UNICEF today launched the annual global appeal today in Geneva, for almost US$2.2 billion for 50 countries, to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in 2014 to 85 million people.
This will also cover 59 million children, who face conflict, natural disasters and other complex emergencies. The HAC appeal highlights the daily challenges faced by children in humanitarian crises, the support required to help them survive and thrive, and the results that are possible even in the most difficult circumstances.
During the launch, UNICEF’s Director of Emergency Programmes Ted Chaiban said that children are always the most vulnerable group in emergencies, facing a high risk of violence, exploitation, disease and neglect.
“But when support is made available, we can change the lives of children for the better,” he said. “I have just returned from South Sudan, the latest large-scale conflict to disrupt the lives of millions of innocent children. Over 400,000 children and their families have been displaced by the conflict, and over 3.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The rainy season is coming and we need to preposition supplies and reinforce essential services, for which we need urgent funding to prevent a catastrophe.”
Latest UN reports indicate that following the violence that broke out in December 2013, an estimated 716,500 people have been displaced inside South Sudan since the conflict started in December 2013. Another 166,900 people have fled to neighbouring countries in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.
Heavy fighting in and around Malakal broke out on 18 February, with inter-communal clashes also sparking within the UN base sheltering over 20,000 people. Ten people are reported to have died in the fights that broke in the UN compound at Malakal. The fighting in Malakal is between government forces and rebel forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar.
Aid agencies are working on pre-positioning relief items in the least affected states and securing sufficient supplies in Juba for conflict-affected areas, ahead of the rainy season. UNICEF says it is working with other partners to provide children and their families with water and sanitation, making provisions so that bore holes and latrines will be elevated before the floods that the rainy season will bring.
UNCEF helps children with health and nutrition services, and supporting vaccinations against diseases such as measles that can quickly become deadly. UNICEF is also providing safe places for children to learn and play, and helping to reunite children separated from their families.
The UN says that the Crisis Response Plan that was put in place by aid agencies in the country is 17.7 % funded, leaving a shortfall of $1.05 billion. The UN is still asking for funds which are urgently needed for the core frontline services.
UNICEF South Sudan has today sent an appeal for US$ 75 million as part of its Humanitarian Action for Children 2014 (HAC) appeal. At the same time, UNICEF today launched the annual global appeal today in Geneva, for almost US$2.2 billion for 50 countries, to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in 2014 to 85 million people.
This will also cover 59 million children, who face conflict, natural disasters and other complex emergencies. The HAC appeal highlights the daily challenges faced by children in humanitarian crises, the support required to help them survive and thrive, and the results that are possible even in the most difficult circumstances.
During the launch, UNICEF’s Director of Emergency Programmes Ted Chaiban said that children are always the most vulnerable group in emergencies, facing a high risk of violence, exploitation, disease and neglect.
“But when support is made available, we can change the lives of children for the better,” he said. “I have just returned from South Sudan, the latest large-scale conflict to disrupt the lives of millions of innocent children. Over 400,000 children and their families have been displaced by the conflict, and over 3.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The rainy season is coming and we need to preposition supplies and reinforce essential services, for which we need urgent funding to prevent a catastrophe.”
Latest UN reports indicate that following the violence that broke out in December 2013, an estimated 716,500 people have been displaced inside South Sudan since the conflict started in December 2013. Another 166,900 people have fled to neighbouring countries in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.
Heavy fighting in and around Malakal broke out on 18 February, with inter-communal clashes also sparking within the UN base sheltering over 20,000 people. Ten people are reported to have died in the fights that broke in the UN compound at Malakal. The fighting in Malakal is between government forces and rebel forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar.
Aid agencies are working on pre-positioning relief items in the least affected states and securing sufficient supplies in Juba for conflict-affected areas, ahead of the rainy season. UNICEF says it is working with other partners to provide children and their families with water and sanitation, making provisions so that bore holes and latrines will be elevated before the floods that the rainy season will bring.
UNCEF helps children with health and nutrition services, and supporting vaccinations against diseases such as measles that can quickly become deadly. UNICEF is also providing safe places for children to learn and play, and helping to reunite children separated from their families.
The UN says that the Crisis Response Plan that was put in place by aid agencies in the country is 17.7 % funded, leaving a shortfall of $1.05 billion. The UN is still asking for funds which are urgently needed for the core frontline services.