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Funding shortfall jeopardizes aid operation to help 3.2 million people in South Sudan
JUBA – Aid agencies in South Sudan warn of even more dire humanitarian consequences if urgently needed funds are not raised in the coming weeks.
The South Sudan Crisis Response Plan, which covers January to June 2014, is only 30 per cent funded. Of the US$887 million shortfall in funding, $232 million is the bare minimum required for the next three months to avoid the humanitarian situation deteriorating sharply.
The funding needed will enable rapid response teams to provide lifesaving aid including food, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, to communities in hard-to-reach areas affected by the conflict. It will also enable agencies to preposition relief in these areas ahead of the imminent rainy season so that life-saving aid continues to be available to people during the second half of this year, when two thirds of the country becomes inaccessible by road.
One million people have been displaced by conflict in just 100 days – over 803,000 people are displaced within South Sudan and another quarter of a million people have fled to neighbouring countries. More than 90 per cent of those displaced in the country are in open or rural settings, often seeking refuge in hard-to-access locations without food, clean water or shelter. Without enough food to eat, malnutrition is on the rise. Resources raised now will focus on these extremely vulnerable communities.
“If donor funding is not made available now, we will be unable to meet the most basic needs to keep people alive or prevent a catastrophic decline in food security for millions of people at risk later in the year,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Toby Lanzer.
“The situation is tough, but aid agencies are doing everything they can to reach people in need, not only with relief that will keep them alive today but also with vital inputs for the planting season which is upon us,” said aid chief Lanzer.
“I call on the negotiators in Addis to ensure that a cessation of hostilities is in place and respected by all parties to the conflict. At the same time, I invite donors to come forward with the money needed now so that aid agencies have the means to help prevent an even greater tragedy from unfolding in early 2015.”
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have disclosed details of their recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu, explaining that the engagement focused on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clarification came amid speculation surrounding the meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after leaders of several opposition parties attended an Iftar dinner hosted by the president earlier in the week.
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Speaking during a gathering hosted in Abuja by the SDP’s former presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo on Friday, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, said the meeting with Tinubu followed an official invitation from the Presidency and lasted about an hour.
According to Gombe, the discussion centred on the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral laws and restore public confidence in the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.
He explained that the meeting provided an opportunity for party leaders to remind the president of the importance of conducting transparent, free, and credible elections.
Gombe noted that democracy can only thrive when governments listen to the concerns of citizens and ensure electoral processes that guarantee fairness and accountability.
The SDP chairman also expressed concern over growing voter apathy, pointing to the low turnout recorded in the recent Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the Abuja Municipal Area Council election witnessed only about seven per cent voter turnout, which he described as a clear sign that many Nigerians are losing confidence in the electoral system.
Gombe urged the government and members of the National Assembly to take urgent steps to review electoral laws and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, said political parties used the meeting to raise concerns about aspects of proposed electoral reforms, particularly issues related to indirect primaries and the mandatory electronic transmission of results.
Dantalle explained that the parties appealed to the president to use his influence to encourage legislative review where necessary, noting that reforms should strengthen, rather than complicate, the democratic process.
He expressed optimism that Tinubu would consider the concerns raised and support necessary amendments that would improve the electoral system.
The IPAC chairman also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly adhere to electoral guidelines as preparations for the next election cycle begin.
Earlier in his remarks, Adebayo cautioned political actors against turning the 2027 general elections into a do-or-die contest, stressing that the primary goal of democracy should be the progress and stability of Nigeria rather than personal political victories.
He urged leaders across political parties to encourage citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and ensure that elections are conducted peacefully and transparently.
President Bola Tinubu and Mr. Taiwo Oyedele during his nomination on Wednesday.
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