British aid flight lands in South Sudan
An emergency relief flight carrying life-saving water and sanitation equipment has landed in South Sudan.
An emergency relief flight carrying life-saving water and sanitation equipment has landed in South Sudan to help prevent a health crisis developing amidst the conflict, International Development Secretary Justine Greening announced today.
Funded by the UK’s Department for International Development, the flight departed Manston Airport in Kent on Saturday 4 January, and arrived in Juba this morning carrying vital supplies provided by Oxfam.
The cargo includes water pumps, hoses, water tanks and chemicals to prevent disease and provide clean water to thousands of people who have fled the conflict.
Announcing the support, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:
“With thousands of families fleeing their homes, there is a very real health risk posed by dirty water and poor sanitation.
“Working with Oxfam, this life-saving equipment will help prevent a secondary health crisis emerging.
“We continue to assess the situation on the ground and stand ready to deliver further humanitarian assistance.”
As the crisis in South Sudan continues, latest UN figures reveal that 194,000 people have been displaced from their homes and many are in need of food, healthcare, shelter, clean water, sanitation and protection.
This flight is in addition to the £12.5 million of emergency assistance from DFID announced on 31 December 2013, which provided funding for clean water, health care and temporary shelter.
Notes to editors
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More information about the Department for International Development’s initial £12.5 million response to the disaster is available here: (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/britain-to-provide-tents-and-medical-aid-to-south-sudan)
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Before the current crisis, South Sudan was already one of the poorest countries in the world with over half of the 8.3 million population living below the poverty line
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DFID’s new humanitarian funding is in addition to our ongoing long term development work in South Sudan. This £60m programme has been targeted at primary education, treatment and prevention from malaria, tackling hunger, supporting security, and providing health care and nutrition.