International and National Non-governmental Organisations working in South Sudan call on the UK Government to reconsider urgently the reported 59% budget cuts to vital international aid. South Sudan is at a pivotal point, based on the recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification of “Famine Likely” and “Catastrophic” food insecurity at a number of locations across the country, with over 60% of the population projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity. Humanitarian assistance is one of the only factors keeping thousands of people from succumbing to the worst outcomes: malnutrition and death.
Severe humanitarian needs across the country have significantly worsened due to a combination of flooding, displacement, and protracted sub-national violence. The sustained support of the international community is critical. As humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding organisations working to support the people of South Sudan coming out of a painful civil war, we call on the UK Government to ensure South Sudan remains a funding priority.
The UK has long played an important role in bolstering South Sudan’s progress with humanitarian support. There is no doubt that the anticipated cuts will cost lives, and undermine significant, longterm progress made with UK funding to date – from saving lives with access to food and safe water, to reducing violence through support for locally-led peacebuilding, and interventions to reduce gender-based violence. It is vital that the UK continues to invest in both humanitarian response and longer-term action that builds resilience and integrates Disaster Risk Reduction in the country. There needs to be continued support for conflict prevention and peacebuilding - as an end in itself but also, as UK Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs Nick Dyer has rightly pointed out, because conflict remains closely linked with food insecurity. After years of engagement and investment, for the UK to step back now would constitute a crushing blow to the people of South Sudan.
Signatories:
1. Action Africa Help - AAH
2. Action Against Hunger – ACF
3. Action For Children Development Foundation - ACDF-SS
4. Active Youth Agency
5. Adventist Development and Relief Agency – ADRA
6. Africa Development Aid – ADA
7. Africa Humanitarian Action - AMREF
8. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development - ACTED
9. American Refugee Committee
10. Association of Volunteers for Service International - AVSI
11. BBC Media Action – BBCMA
12. CAFOD and Trócaire in Partnership - CTP
13. CARE International
14. Caritas Switzerland
15. Catholic Relief Services
16. Child's Destiny and Development Organisation – CHIDDO
17. Christian Aid
18. Christian Blind Mission - CBM
19. Concern Worldwide
20. Concordis International
21. DanChurchAid - DCA
22. Danish Refugee Council - DRC
23. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
24. Doctors with Africa - CUAMM
25. Dorcas
26. Food for the Hungry - FH
27. GOAL
28. Green Belt Initiative – GBI
29. Health Link South Sudan
30. HealthNet TPO
31. Help A Child
32. Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe - HELP
33. Humane - Aid for Community Organization
34. Humanitarian and Development Consortium – HDC
35. Impact Initiative (REACH)
36. International Aid Services - IAS
37. International Rescue Committee - IRC
38. INTERSOS
39. Islamic Development and Relief Agency
40. Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW)
41. Joint Aid Management International – JAM
42. Lutheran World Federation - LWF
43. Medair
44. MENTOR Initiative
45. Mercy Corps - MC
46. Mines Advisory Group - MAG
47. Mission Aviation - MAF
48. Nile Sustainable Development Organisation
49. Nonviolent Peaceforce
50. Norwegian Church Aid - NCA
51. Norwegian Peoples Aid
52. Norwegian Refugee Council - NRC
53. Organismo di Volontariato per la Cooperazione Internazionale – OVCI
54. Oxfam
55. Plan South Sudan
56. Plan UK
57. Polish Humanitarian Action - PAH
58. Populations Services International
59. Relief International
60. Rights for Peace
61. Saferworld
62. Samaritan Purse
63. Save the Children International
64. Smile Again Africa Development Organization - SAADO
65. SCIAF
66. Solidarités International
67. South Sudan Grassroots Initiative for Development
68. Stichting SPARK - SPARK
69. Street Children Ministry
70. Sudan Evangelical Mission - SEM
71. Sudan Peace and Education Development Program
72. TearFund
73. The Carter Centre
74. The Rescue Mission
75. Titi Foundation
76. Veterinarians Without Borders – Canada
77. VSF Germany
78. War Child Holland
79. Women for Change
80. World Concern Development Organization - WCDO
81. World Conservation Society - WCS
82. World Relief
83. World Vision International – WVI
84. World Vision UK
85. Youth Empowerment Organisation
Statement also supported by the South Sudan NGO Forum. The South Sudan NGO Forum comprises 120 INGOs and over 400 NNGOs providing assistance to the people of South Sudan regardless of ethnic background, political affiliation or religious belief to save lives and improve lives. NGO Forum provides a platform through which NGOs, the Government of South Sudan, the United Nations, donors and other external stakeholders can exchange information, share expertise and establish guidelines for a more networked, efficient and effective use of aid resources in South Sudan.
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