The US government has pledged 273 million dollars in humanitarian assistance to South Sudan.

The Assistant Secretary for Population in the Department of State, Anne C. Richard, announced it at a conference in Nairobi today.

 The three-day conference that started yesterday is focusing on the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and its impact on the region.

The pledge by the US government is part of 529,000 dollars donors have promised so far.

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 US dollars to respond to the crisis.

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