Brussels, 18/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 18 September, the European Commission released an additional aid package of €15 million against a backdrop of increasing deterioration in the humanitarian situation in South Sudan.
The package brings the EU's humanitarian aid to this country to nearly €300 million since the start of 2015. “The EU has been relentlessly assisting those in need. It is essential that humanitarian workers have full access to reach all areas to deliver lifesaving aid to the South Sudanese people”, said European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides in a press release.
Criticising the attacks and restrictions on movement of which humanitarian workers are victim, the Commission describes the humanitarian situation in South Sudan as “extremely challenging”. Over 4 million people are suffering from hunger and the levels of malnutrition are very high. Fleeing the civil war, over 2 million people have left their homes and 600,000 of them have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. More than half the refugees are children. (Mathieu Bion)