Oxfam and Christian Aid are to share in funding of £250,000 from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) to assist displaced people and their host communities in South Sudan and Ethiopia with food and essentials.

Head of Christian Aid Scotland Val Brown said:

“South Sudan is dealing with multiple shocks including acute food insecurity and one of the world’s largest displacement crises. In addition, many people have arrived in the country from neighbouring Sudan, fleeing the conflict that started last April.

“We’re grateful for funding from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund which will enable to us to reach 4000 people in the Wedweil Refugee Camp, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, so people can purchase food and essentials.  

“There will also be additional cash assistance for 400 vulnerable women and girls to support their recovery and empowerment.”

South Sudan is one of the world’s poorest countries. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are pouring across its border from its northern neighbour, Sudan, which has been in the grip of a major conflict between the government and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023.

Those fleeing have described horrific experiences, including the use of sexual violence against women and girls.

As part of the ‘Grain from Ukraine’ humanitarian initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over 7,000 tonnes of wheat has been donated by Ukraine will help to feed one million conflict-affected people in Sudan for a month. The United Nations World Food Programme is working around the clock to urgently deliver critical food assistance to families who are struggling with skyrocketing food insecurity as fighting between rivalry military forces in Sudan enters a 10th month.

Commenting on the funding from Scotland, International Development Minister in the Scottish Government Kaukab Stewart said:

“Our thoughts are with the thousands of refugees in South Sudan struggling to survive and facing a bleak and uncertain future.

“This funding will play a crucial role in addressing the immediate needs of those affected by conflict and the climate crisis, including access to shelter, food, clean water, and healthcare. It is imperative that we work with the international community to alleviate their suffering and help them rebuild their lives.

“The £250,000 funding pledge to aid charities responding to the crisis through the Humanitarian Emergency Fund  demonstrates our commitment to providing essential assistance to people in need.”

Oxfam Scotland have welcomed the funding from the Scottish Government. It will allow Oxfam to upgrade and repair the existing water supply systems and support community-led sanitation initiatives. This includes building 100 new latrines and distributing vital supplies, such as 300 menstrual hygiene kits and 500 ‘WASH’ kits which comprise of two jerry cans and five bars of soap each.

Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland said:

“The Scottish Government deserves significant credit for allocating its small, but vital humanitarian funding not just to high-profile emergencies like Gaza or Ukraine, but also to those crises that unfold well away from the world’s attention – and the refugee crisis resulting from the situation in South Sudan is a stark example.

“Importantly, Oxfam is not only ensuring that water and sanitation facilities in Gambella are safer and more accessible to women and girls, and people with disabilities, but also supporting local actors to take ownership over their ongoing maintenance.

“This twin approach of inclusive and locally-led humanitarian response, underpinned by safe programming, is critical to ensuring refugees get the critical support they need.”

Gezahegn Kebede, Country Director of Oxfam in Ethiopia, added:

“The South Sudanese refugee crisis remains one of the world’s darkest secrets, despite its staggering magnitude as Africa’s largest refugee crisis and the fifth largest globally. For years, South Sudanese refugees have been left to languish in obscurity, forgotten by both media and international donors.

“This welcome aid from the Scottish Government is more than just a lifeline; it’s an important expression of solidarity with the refugees themselves and Ethiopia which is hosting them despite its own severe challenges. We hope this funding helps shine a spotlight on the plight of the South Sudanese and catalyses a global response which alleviates years of chronic underfunding; allowing people to live in both safety and dignity.”