IOM makes fundraising appeal for humanitarian response in South Sudan

(Image | IOM)

JUBA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN migration agency, on Tuesday launched a Consolidated Appeal 2023, seeking 190.56 million U.S. dollars to ramp up humanitarian and development responses in South Sudan.

The IOM said the funds will help it meet the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, host community and migrants in South Sudan.

"IOM's humanitarian response will be informed by contextual analyses that promote a strong focus on social cohesion for returnees, internally displaced and host communities, thereby contributing to peacebuilding and the linkages between humanitarian and development programs," it said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

According to the IOM, people in South Sudan continue to face deteriorating humanitarian conditions worsened by endemic violence, conflict and climatic shocks resulting in extraordinary flooding and drought in some parts of the country.

It said the consolidated appeal recognizes the important needs that persist across South Sudan.

The IOM said it will continue to champion integrated and multisectoral initiatives that combine humanitarian assistance with development-oriented, conflict-sensitive programing while leveraging its multi-sectoral capacity and collaboration with partners.

The appeal highlights the IOM's preparedness actions that include adopting a risk-informed approach, with a focus on climate resilience and conflict to strengthen communities' resilience to shocks.

"IOM will also continue to provide essential core services such as health, water, sanitation and hygiene response and the provision of mental health and psychosocial support while protection and safeguarding beneficiaries remain the cornerstones of all IOM's activities," it said.

The outbreak of fighting in Sudan on April 15 has resulted in an influx of people fleeing the country to neighboring countries including South Sudan. Over 148,000 individuals, 93 percent of whom are South Sudanese nationals, have arrived in South Sudan as of June 30, according to the United Nations. ■