The European Commission is boosting its humanitarian assistance by €30 million in Sudan and South Sudan. The funding will support immediate life-saving activities such as distributing essential food and non-food items, as well as providing shelter, health, protection, water, hygiene and sanitation.

The European Commission is allocating €30 million in humanitarian aid for Sudan and South Sudan. The Commission's main is the ever increasing number of refugees and displaced people fleeing the conflict area of South Kordofan and Blue Nile State in Sudan, mainly to South Sudan and Ethiopia. The funding will support immediate life-saving activities such as distributing essential food and non-food items, as well as providing shelter, health, protection, water, hygiene and sanitation. In July 2012, the Commission allocated €40 million additional EU humanitarian aid for Sudan and South Sudan.

Particularly in South Sudan, more and more refugees are arriving in already-full camps. They are completely dependent on humanitarian assistance and increase the risk of cholera and other diseases. In Sudan, the delivery of aid is extremely difficult due to restricted access. In South Kordofan and Blue Nile, humanitarian workers are not allowed to reach hundreds of thousands victims of conflict. After nine years of conflict in Darfur, there are still 3.5 million people dependent on humanitarian assistance, including 1.7 million internally displaced.

The new funding brings the Commission's relief aid in Sudan and South Sudan to €157 million for this year. The EU has also provided Sudan and South Sudan with €285 million of development assistance since 2012. This assistance targets the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas.