JUBA – The British Government announced on Thursday £103m (USD139m) of bilateral humanitarian, health and education assistance for the South Sudanese people.
London has been providing financial support to South Sudan through multilateral organizations and initiatives such as the World Bank, Global Partnership for Education and GAVI.
Announcing the latest support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UK Ambassador to South Sudan, David Ashley, said the assistance will alleviate the needs of populations reeling from multiple crises including conflicts and climate shocks in the country.
“Given the pressing needs in South Sudan, the UK will provide £103m (USD139m) of bilateral aid this year to help the South Sudanese people face the humanitarian, conflict and climate crises; access healthcare; and get children into school,” he said.
The donation brings the total of UK bilateral assistance to South Sudan to over £2 billion (USD2.7 billion) since South Sudan’s independence, according to the British embassy.
“This assistance has changed many lives and helped many hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable South Sudanese access essential services.”
Ashley however said humanitarian aid cannot be not the long-term solution for South Sudan.
He stated that the world is changing fast and international aid budgets are facing unprecedented pressure.
“It is therefore imperative that South Sudan uses its own resources more effectively to support the essential needs of its people. The UK can complement, but cannot replace, the efforts of the South Sudanese authorities.”
“Furthermore, to make aid go further requires peace and better governance, things that we can support but which only the Government of South Sudan can ensure.”
