South Sudan: Featherstone warns of growing refugee crisis
International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone warned of the growing refugee crisis in South Sudan as a result of renewed fighting in Sudan during her visit to the region
皇冠体育app growing refugee crisis in South Sudan is likely to worsen as a result of renewed fighting in Sudan,听International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone warned today.听听
皇冠体育app ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile have already resulted in 170,000 people having to leave their homes.
Visiting the United Nation鈥檚 Jusuf Batil refugee camp in the Upper Nile State of South Sudan, the Minister saw first hand how thousands of families are now being provided with shelter, food, clean water and urgent medical care.
Lynne Featherstone said:
It is impossible not to be shocked by what I have seen today and I am very concerned how more fighting in the days and months to come will increase the refugee crisis.
I have seen the care and commitment from the agencies on the ground to helping those who have lost everything. But the suffering I have seen only reinforces the urgent need for all parties to commit to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict through face-to-face negotiation.
Only through committing to a peaceful solution will people be able to return home and live in peace and dignity.
During the Minister鈥檚 visit to South Sudan, she will also discuss with senior UN, donor and government figures the ways in which co-ordination could be further improved and how funding can be assured for aid agencies responding to this growing crisis. This will include making sure the response to the humanitarian situation is organised听so that听aid is provided in a sustainable and well-planned way.
皇冠体育app UK is听providing support听in South Sudan through the and the .听British support is with food, urgent healthcare and safe drinking water.听听
Working for a peaceful resolution听
As well as providing assistance to the refugee camps in South Sudan, the UK is supporting efforts to bring the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People鈥檚 Liberation Movement-North together to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict and to agree a cessation of hostilities. This would then allow for full humanitarian access to the听people remaining in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.