US Secretary of State John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has announced nearly 138 million dollars humanitarian assistance to help the South Sudanese people who have suffered through almost three years of senseless and brutal fighting.

The Public Affairs Unit of U.S Embassy in Nigeria announced the offer in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

It said Kerry made the announcement following his meeting with regional foreign ministers in Nairobi on Monday.

The mission said that the recent outbreak of violence in Juba, broader insecurity throughout the country and severe economic decline had conspired to worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.

“ Warring parties have terrorised and abused innocent civilians, especially women and girls.

“More than 2.5 million people have fled their homes – internally and to neighbouring countries.

“Forty per cent of the population now faces life-threatening hunger, with some people on the brink of starvation.

“Food security conditions are at their worst since South Sudan gained independence in 2011,” the mission said.

It stated that the new funding, provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), included nearly 58,000 tonnes of food aid and specialty nutrition products, along with emergency health and nutrition services.

Other items are safe drinking water, hygiene supplies and cholera treatment and prevention messaging to stem the current outbreak., it said.

It stated that USAID’s partners had also expanded medical and psychosocial support services for survivors of gender-based violence.

“To deliver this aid, our UN and non-governmental partners must overcome significant obstacles. We commend their courage and dedication.

“We also demand that all parties stop attacking civilians, allow humanitarian’s unfettered access to those in need and cease violations of humanitarian principles.

“The U.S. continues to stand by the people of South Sudan and remains the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance, providing more than 1.7 billion dollars since the conflict began in December 2013,” the mission said.

It added that U.S. also supported community level peace-building programmes and provided long-term development assistance such as basic education and health services.

It said that in spite of the tremendous efforts of aid workers, no amount of humanitarian aid would end the violence or provide lasting solutions to this man-made crisis.

“We strongly urge the country’s leaders to prioritise the needs of their people by protecting the population and ensuring the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance,” the mission said. (NAN)