Since the end of 2013, the country has been strongly hit by the civil war. To meet the urgent needs of half of its population, 6 million people affected by the war’s disastrous consequences and drought, South Sudan will need $1.7 billion in 2018. This information has been given on December 13, 2017 by the United Nations and the South Sudan government.

Alain Noudehou, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, said: “Today, we are calling for $1.72 billion to continue providing life-saving assistance and protection for six million people most in need in South Sudan”.

According to the UN, the aid will mainly be used to help people suffering from displacement effects, food insecurity, malnutrition, violence and economic decline.

Since the beginning of the conflict which started 2 years after the country’s independence, approximately 4 million people have been forced to leave their houses, including 1.9 million internally displaced persons and about 2.1 million who moved to neighboring countries.

Hussein Mar Nyuot, South Sudan’s Minister of humanitarian affairs, said that the crisis might get worse in 2018 unless funders quickly take action.

The conflict which became ethnic, has already affected the country’s crude oil’s production, its major source of foreign exchange. All the economic indicators are in the red. The GDP slumped by 13% in 2016 while the consumer price index soared reaching hyperinflation level (444%).

Fiacre E. Kakpo