Press release

Further British aid for refugees fleeing South Sudan

The UK will provide emergency food, shelter and sanitation to half a million refugees that have fled the ongoing fighting in South Sudan.

From:
Department for International Development and The Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne TD MP
Published
31 December 2014
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

With almost a quarter of refugees reaching camps in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya suffering from acute malnutrition, the new £16.4 million package will provide:

  • £7.4 million to the UNHCR and WFP to assist 200,000 refugees in Ethiopia where recent flooding has destroyed camps. As well as food, shelter and sanitation, solar powered lamps will be distributed to help reduce the risk of violence against women and girls, by allowing them to move safely at night;

  • £5.8 million to WFP for 360,000 refugees in Uganda including food for all children under two and targeted supplementary feeding for children under five;

  • £3.2 million to WFP to help fill a gap in its food supply in Kenya, without which it would be forced to reduce the size of the rations provided to refugees.

International Development Minister, Desmond Swayne said:

“Millions of people have fled intolerable violence in South Sudan only to face uncertainty and further hardship where they seek refuge.

“This additional funding from the UK will help ensure these families have their basic needs met. Ultimately, though, only a political solution to the conflict will allow them the peace and security they deserve.”

This new money brings the UK’s total support for refugees who have fled South Sudan to over £58 million since December 2013, as well as more than £130 million for the 1.4 million people who have been displaced from their homes but remain in the country.

Notes to editors

  1. The UK has contributed more than £58 million to the refugee crisis, to organisations including UNICEF, the WFP and UNHCR to help South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan and Kenya.

  2. Since December 2013, in South Sudan UK support has:

  • provided more than 100,000 people with food, and is providing more than 400,000 people with livelihoods support;
  • provided more than 170,000 people with clean water, and improved hygiene and sanitation for 180,000;
  • provided health support for more than 100,000 people; and
  • provided more than 80,000 people with protection interventions.

Updates to this page

Published 31 December 2014