Dipo Olowookere
By Ebitonye Akpodigha
Italy has earmarked the sum of €3.9 million for emergency interventions to support the provision of essential services to South Sudanese refugees and to the most vulnerable segments of the hosting populations in South Sudan and in the neighbouring countries (Uganda and Ethiopia).
Italy observed that lack of food and assistance, compounded to precarious hygiene and sanitary conditions, determine a real threat of famine, epidemics and tension between the refugees and the local populations.
Moreover, the state of emergency is such that even humanitarian organisations have difficulty in assuring protection and relief services to the hundreds of thousands of persons in need, most of whom are women and children.
Italy explained that the intervention activities would be carried out by the numerous Italian civil society organisations present in the areas concerned.
South Sudan has been plunged into internal crisis since it gained independence from Sudan few years ago.
