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March 10th, 2014

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The Danish Foreign Ministry has earmarked 25 million kroner and temporary accommodation in aid to the dire humanitarian crisis in South Sudan that has displaced an estimated 500,000 people.

The UN recently upgraded the situation in South Sudan to its highest catastrophe level, equal to Syria and the Central African Republic. But even before the upgrade, it has in early February appealed to the international community to contribute seven billion kroner in aid to assist the civilian population.

“We must and will react to the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan because the conflict comes in the wake of an already difficult situation,” Mogens Jensen (S), the trade and development minister, said in a press release. “These are some of the world’s poorest people who have been displaced due to the conflict. They own nothing, the children are malnourished so we must do everything we can to ensure that the situation remains under control.”

Many of the aid depots have been plundered and continuing fighting between the government and opposition forces has made humanitarian efforts even more difficult. Moreover, the coming rainy season will further complicate aid efforts.

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Hundreds of thousands displaced
The 25 million kroner from Denmark will be funnelled to aid organisations in South Sudan via the UN and a further two million kroner will help provide campsites to ensure that the aid workers in the war-torn nation will have accommodation.

Denmark gave 160 million kroner in aid to South Sudan in 2013 and the 77 million kroner currently earmarked for long-term aid work in 2014 is expected to be changed to critical aid.

According to the UN, 171,000 South Sudanese have already fled to neighbouring nations Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan, while a further 350,000 people are expected to follow.