Humanitarian situation in South Sudan deteriorating

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UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, especially in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

Hundreds of thousands of people remain trapped in the conflict zone with little access to food, water, shelter and medical services.

Thousands more are crossing into neighbouring countries each day, fleeing the fighting and in search of food and other basic supplies.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says since April, the number of refugees from Sudan arriving in South Sudan and Ethiopia has more than doubled, to 200,000.

"Valerie Amos calls for unimpeded and complete humanitarian access to all areas and she remains especially concerned that there continues to be no access to areas controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North, the SPLM-N."

The World Food Programme says it has already assisted more than 1.9 million people in South Sudan and plans to feed 2.9 million people this year.

Jumbe Omari Jumbe, the spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration says IOM is installing water storage tanks at Doro camp in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State.

"I don't know how I can put this to actually feel their desperate situation there but try to conjure up a picture of this vast crowd of people up to 42,000 in one camp among them children babies the sick and people with disabilities, all of them covered in one spot.  This place is very inhospitable, very remote, and with no existing source of drinking water."

Duration 52"