The French government has announced a donation of 2 million euros ($2.1m) to help civilian displaced into South Sudan by the four weeks of fighting in Sudan.

At least 70,000 South Sudanese citizens and foreigners have poured into South Sudan since the conflict erupted in mid April, the International Organization for Migration says.

The donation was announced in a meeting with South Sudan’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Deng Dau Deng and the Head of Mission of the French Embassy in Juba, Christian Bader.

“The ambassador stressed that his government contributes 5 million euros per year to IOM and UNICEF for humanitarian emergency food supplies to South Sudan. He said now they have added another 2 million euros to its humanitarian budget for people who crossed the borders,” says the statement.

– Sanctions –

While discussing bilateral relations between the two countries, Acting Minister Deng Dau Deng also complained about the U.S.-imposed sanctions on South Sudan government officials and the oil sector.

“In the same note, the Minister critically emphasized, particularly, the United States government’s decision to renew sanctions against South Sudan,” read the statement further.

“He (Dau) stated that renewing sanctions against South Sudan as punishment will not help; instead, he advised that it is time to focus on issues of capacity building for South Sudanese and support the transitional government.”