NGOs Ask the UK Government Not to Cut Aid to South Sudan as Threat of Famine Looms

11 March 2021

International and national non-governmental organisations working in South Sudan call on the UK Government to reconsider urgently the reported 59% budget cuts to vital international aid.

South Sudan is at a pivotal point, based on the recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification of  “Famine Likely” and “Catastrophic” food insecurity at a number of locations across the country, with over 60% of the population projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity. Humanitarian assistance is one of the only factors keeping thousands of people from succumbing to the worst  outcomes: malnutrition and death. 

Severe humanitarian needs across the country have significantly worsened due to a combination of flooding, displacement, and protracted sub-national violence. The sustained support of the  international community is critical. As humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding organisations working to support the people of South Sudan coming out of a painful civil war, we call on the UK  Government to ensure South Sudan remains a funding priority. 

The UK has long played an important role in bolstering South Sudan’s progress with humanitarian support. There is no doubt that the anticipated cuts will cost lives, and undermine significant, long term progress made with UK funding to date – from saving lives with access to food and safe water,  to reducing violence through support for locally-led peacebuilding, and interventions to reduce  gender-based violence. It is vital that the UK continues to invest in both humanitarian response and  longer-term action that builds resilience and integrates Disaster Risk Reduction in the country. There  needs to be continued support for conflict prevention and peacebuilding - as an end in itself but also,  as UK Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs Nick Dyer has rightly pointed out, because conflict remains closely linked with food insecurity. After years of engagement and  investment, for the UK to step back now would constitute a crushing blow to the people of South  Sudan. 

Signatories: 

1. Action Africa Help - AAH 

2. Action Against Hunger – ACF 

3. Action For Children Development Foundation - ACDF-SS 

4. Active Youth Agency 

5. Adventist Development and Relief Agency – ADRA 

6. Africa Development Aid – ADA 

7. Africa Humanitarian Action - AMREF 

8. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development - ACTED 

9. American Refugee Committee 

10. Association of Volunteers for Service International - AVSI 

11. BBC Media Action – BBCMA 

12. CAFOD and Trócaire in Partnership - CTP 

13. CARE International 

14. Caritas Switzerland 

15. Catholic Relief Services 

16. Child's Destiny and Development Organisation – CHIDDO 

17. Christian Aid 

18. Christian Blind Mission - CBM 

19. Concern Worldwide

20. Concordis International 

21. DanChurchAid - DCA 

22. Danish Refugee Council - DRC 

23. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe 

24. Doctors with Africa - CUAMM 

25. Dorcas 

26. Food for the Hungry - FH 

27. GOAL 

28. Green Belt Initiative – GBI 

29. Health Link South Sudan 

30. HealthNet TPO 

31. Help A Child 

32. Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe - HELP 

33. Humane - Aid for Community Organization 

34. Humanitarian and Development Consortium – HDC 35. Impact Initiative (REACH) 

36. International Aid Services - IAS 

37. International Rescue Committee - IRC 

38. INTERSOS 

39. Islamic Development and Relief Agency 

40. Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) 

41. Joint Aid Management International – JAM 

42. Lutheran World Federation - LWF 

43. Medair 

44. MENTOR Initiative 

45. Mercy Corps - MC 

46. Mines Advisory Group - MAG 

47. Mission Aviation - MAF 

48. Nile Sustainable Development Organisation 

49. Nonviolent Peaceforce 

50. Norwegian Church Aid - NCA 

51. Norwegian Peoples Aid 

52. Norwegian Refugee Council - NRC 

53. Organismo di Volontariato per la Cooperazione Internazionale – OVCI 54. Oxfam 

55. Plan South Sudan 

56. Plan UK 

57. Polish Humanitarian Action - PAH 

58. Populations Services International 

59. Relief International 

60. Rights for Peace 

61. Saferworld 

62. Samaritan Purse 

63. Save the Children International 

64. Smile Again Africa Development Organization - SAADO 65. SCIAF 

66. Solidarités International 

67. South Sudan Grassroots Initiative for Development

68. Stichting SPARK - SPARK 

69. Street Children Ministry 

70. Sudan Evangelical Mission - SEM 

71. Sudan Peace and Education Development Program 

72. TearFund 

73. The Carter Centre 

74. The Rescue Mission 

75. Titi Foundation 

76. Veterinarians Without Borders – Canada 

77. VSF Germany 

78. War Child Holland 

79. Women for Change 

80. World Concern Development Organization - WCDO 

81. World Conservation Society - WCS 

82. World Relief 

83. World Vision International – WVI 

84. World Vision UK 

85. Youth Empowerment Organisation 

Statement also supported by the South Sudan NGO Forum. The South Sudan NGO Forum comprises  120 INGOs and over 400 NNGOs providing assistance to the people of South Sudan regardless of ethnic  background, political affiliation or religious belief to save lives and improve lives. NGO Forum provides  a platform through which NGOs, the Government of South Sudan, the United Nations, donors and  other external stakeholders can exchange information, share expertise and establish guidelines for a  more networked, efficient and effective use of aid resources in South Sudan