Joint media release
The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Hon Steven Ciobo MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific
29 October 2015
The Australian Government is providing further humanitarian assistance to South Sudan and Somalia due to conflict and ongoing violence.
Over 1.6 million people have been forced from their homes and millions more are facing food shortages as a result of the conflict.
Today’s announcement of $10 million will provide emergency food, water, sanitation and shelter, through the United Nations South Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund.
Funding will also help to combat gender-based violence and support children who were held by armed groups to re-establish their lives.
Australia’s total contribution to South Sudan since the conflict began in December 2013 is more than $39 million.
The Australian Government is also providing a further $4 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia bringing Australia’s contribution to the Somali crisis to $23.5 million since early 2014.
Over three million Somalis are in need of humanitarian assistance. Funding will support life-saving interventions such as emergency food, water, shelter and healthcare to Somalis affected by the crisis and the deepening impacts of El Niño conditions.
Funding will also help rural communities emerging from conflict by providing agricultural goods, tools and farming assistance.
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