Juba, South Sudan, 3 April, 2014 – The Government of Japan has contributed US$ 4.4 million to UNICEF to support life-saving humanitarian interventions throughout South Sudan, with a focus on conflict-affected states.
Mr Takeshi Akamatsu, Ambassador of Japan stated “UNICEF is a trusted partner of the Government of Japan and we know that the funds we provided will make a crucial difference for conflict affected children and women after the crisis that broke out in mid-December 2013. I am very proud of giving this assistance.”
Since 2009, the Government of Japan has been UNICEF South Sudan’s largest government donor in the area of humanitarian assistance, with contributions so far totalling more than US$51 million to support emergency responses that include health, nutrition, education and child protection services and the provision of clean water and sanitation facilities to communities throughout South Sudan.
“UNICEF South Sudan is grateful to the people of Japan for their continuous support to the children and women of this country. With this generous contribution, we will be able to support our partners in delivering essential supplies and services to South Sudan’s most vulnerable children,” said UNICEF’s new Representative in South Sudan, Mr Jonathan Veitch.
The humanitarian needs of children in South Sudan remained high throughout during 2013 and their situation further deteriorated at the end of the year. Following the violence that broke out in December last year, those challenges have multiplied on a massive scale. More than 800,000 people are currently displaced within the country, approximately half of them children, and over 250,000 refugees from the conflict have sought asylum in neighbouring countries.
With the new funding provided by the Government of Japan, UNICEF in 2014 will implement the following activities:
- Provide safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services;
- Prevent outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases;
- Provide pregnant mothers and new-borns access to life-saving maternal and neo-natal interventions;
- Manage Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM);
- Support the identification of separated/unaccompanied or missing children;
- Establish and rehabilitate safe and secure learning environments, distribute and pre-position learning and teaching materials, and give emergency training.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF South Sudan and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/southsudan
For more information, please contact:
- Doune Porter, Chief, Strategic Communication, UNICEF South Sudan Tel: +211 (0)952 819 302 Email: dporter@unicef.org
- Hisako Ishizaki, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan to South Sudan Tel: +211 (0)959 003 152 Email: hisako.ishizaki@mofa.go.jp