Donors have pledged $529 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan this year.

The pledge was made at a donors’ conference in Nairobi yesterday.

The funds will be used to repair roads and airstrips and pre-position supplies before the beginning of the rainy season in May.

The United Nations had appealed to the international community to give $1.8 billion to respond the crisis.

The UN says 2.5 million people will need food aid until March.