Ireland has announced that it will provide 2 million Euros in funding to help communities affected by the conflict in South Sudan.

Part of the money will also be used for providing lifesaving assistances to South Sudanese refugees who have fled to Ethiopia.

The money will go to aid agencies responding to the crisis and, will provide food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, education programs for children and protection to vulnerable people.

Almost half a million of South Sudanese have taken refuge in the neighboring countries, including Ethiopia.

Gambella refugee camps provide shelter to many of the 180,000 South Sudanese who have fled to Ethiopia as a result of the on-going conflict.

Irish President Michael Higgins and Minister for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation, Seán Sherlock, are visiting the refugee camps in Gambella region in Ethiopia.

The latest donation will bring the funding provided by Ireland to the South Sudanese crisis this year to over 8.5 million Euros.