Development Minister Anneliese Dodds visits Bentiu, Unity State, where 100,000 people live in extreme poverty surrounded by flood waters….reports Asian Lite News
Development Minister Anneliese Dodds has announced crucial UK aid for the people of South Sudan, who are facing a severe humanitarian crisis fueled by conflict, drought, and flooding.
During her visit to Bentiu, Unity State, she toured the country’s largest internally displaced persons’ camp, where 100,000 people live in dire poverty surrounded by floodwaters that have remained stagnant for years. The minister witnessed first-hand how UK aid is assisting these vulnerable communities.
Prior to her visit to Bentiu, Minister Dodds met with senior South Sudanese officials in Juba, where she underscored the urgent need for humanitarian aid to support those fleeing conflict. She also pressed for reforms to ensure free and fair elections scheduled for December 2024, highlighting the importance of political progress to achieve peace, stability, increased government investment in health and education, and unrestricted humanitarian access.
In recent years, unprecedented flooding in South Sudan has displaced over a million people, devastating farms, livestock, schools, and health facilities. The funding announced by the minister aims to tackle these critical issues by helping communities improve farming techniques and build flood control measures.
Further UK aid will support women-led organizations in South Sudan, enabling them to work with communities to prevent gender-based violence, including through education on its harmful effects. Additionally, counselling and support services will be made available to women and girls who have experienced such violence.
“The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan has left over 75% of the population in desperate need, with many struggling to feed themselves and their families,” said Minister Dodds. “The camp I visited is on the frontline of the climate crisis, facing unprecedented flooding that threatens to overwhelm over 100,000 displaced people who are already suffering from acute hunger. The stories I heard from those who fled the civil war in neighboring Sudan underscore the urgent need to support people fleeing conflict. The levels of gender-based violence in South Sudan are appalling, and I am grateful to the survivors who shared their harrowing stories with me.
“I also saw how UK aid is providing a lifeline to those in need and laying the foundation for a better future. As Minister for Development and Women and Equalities, I am committed to doing more to alleviate their suffering. The new funding I have announced will save lives, combat food shortages and malnutrition, and provide essential support to prevent gender-based violence while helping displaced communities adapt to the impacts of flooding and the climate crisis.”
The conflict in Sudan is also driving vulnerable people to seek refuge in South Sudan and Chad. To address this, the UK is providing food parcels for 145,000 people in Sudan and around 60,000 vulnerable refugees in Chad. Displaced people in South Sudan will also receive critical nutrition services for children under five and their caregivers.
In collaboration with the UN and NGO partners, this aid package will provide food and cash transfers to 180,000 people, treat severe malnutrition in 15,000 children, and deliver safe water to 40,000 displaced people in South Sudan. This support is part of a total £86 million funding package announced during the visit.
Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, welcomed the UK’s initiative, stating: “We appreciate the UK’s focus on displaced people in South Sudan, where fragile communities are already grappling with the severe impact of climate change and an influx of refugees fleeing the war in Sudan. While the needs are vast, these additional resources will help us save lives and provide practical solutions by scaling up life-saving transportation assistance, healthcare, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, and specific support for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.”
On the final day of her trip, Minister Dodds met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie to discuss UK support for peace, security, economic growth, and development across Ethiopia and the broader region. She also met with African Union Commissioner Bankole Adeoye to discuss peace and security issues across the continent, including in Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia.
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