Courtesy of www.thezimmail.co.zw

The outgoing head of mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross in South Sudan says they need additional funding to meet the growing needs in the country.

Melker Mabeck said that a seventy-two thousand dollar budget that was set before the mid-December crisis would not be enough to provide assistance to the large number of people who have been affected by the conflict.

Malker Mabeck said, ““Some of our main concerns for the months to come are obviously linked to the onset of the rainy season and the fact that large groups of people remain and are likely to remain displaced as the rains begin.”

ICRC areas of concern:

• Food security and nutrition
• Violence and insecurity prevents people providing for themselves
• Planting season has been disrupted
• Cattle have been left behind when people move
• Rainy season begins bringing further disruption

ICRC says will it also deliver humanitarian assistance to areas that are not directly affected by the crisis.

“We must not forget the areas that have not perhaps been directly affected but have received people that are displaced or are already taking care of people that have been previously displaced or are in a difficult situation.” Outgoing head of Mission, Melker Mabeck.

The ICRC has provided food, household materials and clean water to a large number of people over the last four months.
It has also performed more than one thousand surgeries to wounded people and provided first aid materials to the population in affected areas. The committee has also distributed farm tools, seeds and fishing equipment to enable affected people earn a living.