Italy has allocated about $4 million for emergency interventions for South Sudanese refugees in Uganda and Ethiopia.

A statement from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the money also be used to help vulnerable members of the host communities.

“Lack of food and assistance, compounded to precarious hygiene and sanitary conditions, determine a real threat of famine, epidemics and tension between the refugees and the local populations,” partly read the statement.

The Italian government says humanitarian organizations are facing difficulties in ensuring protection and relief services to the people in need, mostly women and children.

It says intervention activities will be carried out by the numerous Italian civil society organizations present in the areas concerned.