The federal government will increase its aid effort to South Sudan where the United Nations warns more than 50,000 children could die this year because of a worsening food crisis.
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Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Sunday that Australia would provide a further $5 million in humanitarian assistance to South Sudan bringing the government’s contribution to over $18 million since internal conflict began eight months ago. The fighting has killed at least 10,000 people and displaced about 1.5 million.
The UN has described the deepening humanitarian emergency in South Sudan as the "worst in the world" but the crisis there has been overshadowed by emergencies in Iraq, Syria and Gaza as well as the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa.
Two million children in South Sudan are facing extreme hunger, according to the latest UN figures.
Fighting erupted last December after President Salva Kiir accused his vice-president, Riek Machar, of staging a coup. Mr Machar denied the allegation, but marshalled a rebel army to fight the government. Peace agreements brokered earlier this year have not stopped the bloodshed.
Last week Australia joined other members of the UN Security Council in a visit to South Sudan to stress the need for immediate progress towards peace and reconciliation.
The Security Council urged President Kiir and Mr Machar to immediately honour their commitments to halt hostilities and begin reconciliation through an inclusive transitional government.
Ms Bishop said the additional humanitarian assistance to South Sudan would be channelled through UN agencies to provide emergency food, water, sanitation, shelter and medical assistance and support for the protection of civilians.
In addition to emergency funding, Australia provided RAAF airlift support, used to transport critical humanitarian supplies into South Sudan. An ADF contingent has also been deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan since its inception.
“Violence has forced over 1 million people from their homes and millions are facing emergency levels of food insecurity as a result of ongoing internal conflict,” Ms Bishop said.
Aid agencies welcomed the government’s announcement.
Olivia Zinzan from Save the Children Australia said it was an “important next step in tackling the food crisis that threatens tens of thousands of lives".
Last week the US government announced an extra $US180 million ($193 million) in food aid to South Sudan lifting its commitment since December to $US456 million.
