OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/01/14 -- Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Today, Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced additional support to the people of South Sudan in response to the escalation of violence in several regions of the country since December 2013.
The security situation in South Sudan remains deeply concerning, with reports of continued fighting, attacks on civilians and ethnic violence. Those affected by the crisis are in dire need of protection, food, health care, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene services.
"Canada continues to respond to the increasing needs in South Sudan," said Minister Paradis. "People who have been forced to flee their homes urgently need support. Canada's assistance will enable experienced humanitarian partners to deliver essential, lifesaving services on the ground, including increasing food production to stave off famine. Canada is particularly troubled by the impact of this crisis on women and children, and we are responding with specific protection measures for displaced people who have suffered from sexual and gender-based violence."
To address the needs of the displaced and in response to appeals from the United Nations, the International Red Cross Movement and Canadian non-governmental organizations, Canada is providing $24.85 million to experienced humanitarian partners already operating on the ground. In addition to emergency assistance, Canada is providing $51.5 million to help the people of South Sudan address longer-term food security and livelihoods needs, which will help to avert potential famine this year and reduce pressure on emergency food assistance requirements.
Canada calls on all parties to the conflict to provide immediate unhindered humanitarian access and allow for the safe delivery of emergency relief to those in need. We will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation.
Quick Facts
-- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
estimates that since December 2013, the conflict has forced more than
925,000 people from their homes, including more than 700,000 within
South Sudan.
-- More than 250,000 South Sudanese have sought protection in neighbouring
countries: Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia.
-- To date in 2014, Canada has committed more than $24.8 million in
humanitarian assistance to South Sudan through United Nations
humanitarian partners, the International Red Cross Movement, and
Canadian non-governmental organizations.
Related Links
Canada provides urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of South Sudan
Canada's development assistance to Sudan and South Sudan
BACKGROUNDER
Canada increasing its humanitarian assistance to the people of South Sudan
Canada is providing an additional $24.85 million to address the increased humanitarian needs of people affected by recent violence in South Sudan. The funding will be provided through the following partners:
- United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) - $11 million Canada's contribution will help provide:
-- emergency food assistance to as many as 75,000 recently displaced South
Sudanese in various United Nations bases throughout the country, and for
as many as 200,000 Sudanese refugees currently displaced in South Sudan;
and
-- specialized nutritional support for new mothers and young children,
including supplemental food for pregnant and lactating women.
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - $3 millionCanada's contribution will help provide:
-- emergency support to more than 230,000 internally displaced persons and
more than 229,000 refugees in South Sudan;
-- shelter (tents and plastic sheeting) for as many as 5,000 families, and
relief items (e.g., blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, jerry cans,
hygiene materials) to as many as 75,000 internally displaced persons;
and
-- support to refugees who are survivors of sexual and gender-based
violence, as well as specific protection activities for displaced
children.
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - $2.5 million Canada's contribution will help provide:
-- access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for as many as
250,000 people;
-- food rations for one month for as many as 60,000 displaced people and
returnees;
-- emergency shelter and other basic relief items for as many as 72,000
beneficiaries;
-- medical supplies, equipment, vaccinations and training for three health
facilities, including one hospital; and
-- protection services to survivors of sexual violence and reunification
support to reunite minors with their families.
- International Organization for Migration (IOM) - $2 millionCanada's contribution will help ensure that:
-- all internally displaced persons are registered, and appropriate needs
assessments have been conducted; and
-- up to 75,000 people seeking refuge on United Nations Mission in South
Sudan (UNMISS) bases are provided with appropriate shelter, basic
household items (cooking utensils, water containers, etc.), and access
to safe water and adequate sanitation facilities.
- United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) - $2 millionCanada's contribution will help provide:
-- safe, reliable air service to more than 27 locations, enabling more than
200 humanitarian agencies to access remote communities in need of
assistance;
-- timely medical and security evacuations for humanitarian workers in
remote locations; and
-- transportation of light, essential humanitarian supplies to remote
locations to be used in urgently needed relief operations.
- Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - $500,000
Canada's contribution will help provide:
-- coordination and support services, including emergency preparedness, to
more than 320 members of the humanitarian community operating in South
Sudan, including UN agencies, and national and international non-
governmental organizations;
-- improved humanitarian access through monitoring, reporting and advocacy
efforts, with specific focus on issues of bureaucratic impediments and
other challenges for humanitarian partners; and
-- improved communications tools and increased surge capacity in key
states.
- Medecins Sans Frontieres Canada - $1 millionCanada's contribution will help provide:
-- emergency health care in Warrap state and the Abyei administrative area
through mobile health clinics, and emergency obstetric services and
emergency health care for as many as 1,600 pregnant women;
-- emergency vaccines and supplemental food for treating malnutrition for
as many as 40,000 conflict-affected people; and
-- training and staff support to increase the capacity of the Agok hospital
to respond to emergencies.
- World Relief Canada - $1.5 millionCanada's contribution will help provide:
-- safe drinking water through the construction of 14 new water points and
14 rehabilitated water points, serving as many as 14,000 people and
close to 2,500 households in Jonglei state;
-- sanitation facilities through the construction of 300 household latrines
for conflict-affected people;
-- training for 6 hand pump mechanics and 14 water committees on
maintenance, repair and testing of water points; and
-- increased access to relief items (e.g., tarps, soap, mosquito nets) for
750 vulnerable households.
- World Vision Canada - $1.35 millionCanada's contribution will help provide:
-- safe drinking water through the construction of 9 new water points in 7
health facilities and rehabilitating 15 boreholes for more than 12,400
people in Warrap state;
-- training for 24 water committees to manage, operate and maintain new
water points and 6 blocks of latrines in 4 communities, benefiting more
than 900 people;
-- support and training to 5 community hygiene promoters and conducting 5
sanitation and hygiene training sessions; and
-- emergency food assistance through the provision of supplemental feeding
to close to 9,500 children under the age of 5 and to approximately 1,900
malnourished pregnant or lactating women.
Food security and livelihoods
Canada is also helping the people of South Sudan to address the worsening food security situation and pressing livelihoods needs by supporting the following development projects:
-- Farm-to-market roads in South Sudan - $20 million over four years, with
the United Nations World Food Programme
The project will focus on the construction of as much as 140 km of
roads, which will support the timely and efficient delivery of food
assistance and provide farmers with easier access to markets for their
crops in stable areas of the country.
-- Improving fisheries in South Sudan - $11.5 million over five years, with
the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
This project aims to respond to increasing food needs in South Sudan by
improving fish harvests and supporting river-based livelihoods in
communities along the Nile River.
-- Food for work to build community assets - $20 million over three years
with the United Nations World Food Programme
Through this project, beneficiaries will participate in food-for-work
activities to build community assets such as irrigation networks and
food-storage facilities. In the short term, it will address immediate
hunger needs. In the long term, the assets that are built will help
improve agricultural production for as many as 450,000 people.
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Contacts:
Margaux Stastny
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Development
and La Francophonie
819-953-6238
margaux.stastny@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
819-995-1874
media@international.gc.ca
