The European Commission decided to increase its support in €40 million for the victims of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan and South Sudan. Especially in South Sudan, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated drastically in 2012. This brings to €127 million the Commission's relief aid in the two countries for this year.

The European Commission aims to help hundreds of thousands of refugees in South Sudan who have fled the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States, and the 37,000 refugees, mainly from Blue Nile, in Ethiopia. Therefore it has increase by €40 million its humanitarian aid for Sudan and South Sudan. This brings to €127 million the Commission's relief aid in the two countries for this year. MEPs welcomed in July 2011 the €200 million allocated on development aid for South Sudan.

The Commission funds work on the greatest priorities, including protection, water and sanitation and nutrition. Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, confirmed that the humanitarian experts in the crisis areas have alerted that the situation is deteriorating fast and the needs are growing. She therefore stressed that is vital to scale up European immediate response in the border areas.

The vicious circle of disease and malnutrition pushes up mortality rates, particularly among children. Access to people in need is restricted by insecurity and the rain season, which has made many roads impassable and the delivery of essential aid impossible. A team of humanitarian experts of the Commission, based on the spot, is monitoring the situation, needs and use of EU funds. The European Commission is working with humanitarian organisations that are best-placed to deliver assistance in the countries concerned (The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, NGOs).