South Sudanese women and children in a camp in Ethiopia. MSF photo.

A United Nations agency is appealing for $120 million for providing life-saving assistance to over 150 thousand South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Ethiopia made the appeal during the celebrations of the World Refugee Day today.

The agency says those who fled the conflict in South Sudan and sought refuge in Ethiopia are in dire need of assistance.

“The international community will be sensitized to provide more funds not only for UNHCR, but for all the UN agencies that carryout the duties of protecting and assisting the refugees in Ethiopia and the neighboring countries to South Sudan,” said Luiz Fernando, UNHCR Representative in Ethiopia.

“Currently, we are around 12% funded and this is a continued process.”

Mr. Fernando said the government of Ethiopia is working with the U-N-H-C-R, the World Food Program, and other humanitarian agencies to assist thousands of refugees.