The UNHCR’s High Commissioner for Refugees has urgently announced a commitment of one billion USD to countries accommodating Sudanese refugees in the neighboring regions of Sudan.

Speaking before journalists at their headquarters in Juba, the High Commissioner highlighted that South Sudan is among the nations set to benefit from these initiatives. South Sudan has been hosting a significant number of Sudanese refugees who have fled their homeland due to conflict. Specifically, Juba is expected to receive 356 million USD, aimed at addressing the acute shortage of essential provisions for both refugees and returnees, encompassing vital needs such as food and other necessities.

This substantial financial assistance from the UNHCR serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it seeks to enhance healthcare facilities for refugees and returning individuals residing in the Northern Upper Nile state. Secondly, the funds are intended to bridge the logistics gap, ensuring comprehensive and efficient food distribution services.

The availability of basic necessities, particularly food, in South Sudan will not only bring relief to Sudanese refugees and returning citizens but also to the broader population heavily reliant on humanitarian aid. This assistance extends to internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in UN protection civilian sites across the nation. These individuals, though not categorized as refugees, have nonetheless endured the hardships of hunger and economic adversity, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the country.

South Sudan has been grappling with economic turmoil, primarily due to the devaluation of its national currency against the US dollar. This has contributed to soaring inflation and has been compounded by the devastations caused by flooding. These factors have collectively cast a shadow on the nation’s economic growth, despite the revenue generated from its oil sector, which has traditionally been a cornerstone of economic sustenance, now teetering on the brink of collapse.