Fati Oxfam Director for Africa speaks at a news conference in Juba. | Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

Oxfam is appealing for 30 million dollars from the government and international donors to support its humanitarian work in South Sudan.

The organization’s Director for Africa Fati N’Zi Hassane made the appeal during a six-day assessment visit to the country.

The visiting Oxfam delegation observed that flooding, drought, and high cost of living are the major causes of the dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

Ms. Fati said the humanitarian situation is overstretched with climate change being the major contributor.

She underscores that an estimated 9.4 million people in South Sudan are in urgent need of help and 1.4 million children under the age of five years are facing acute malnutrition.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Fati appealed to international donors and the government to support the organization’s humanitarian response.

“As Oxfam, we will continue to mobilize all stakeholders to bring relief and sustainable solutions to address the multi-faced crisis in South Sudan,” she said.

“To help save a life now, we need immediate funding to help us scale a response to the people of South Sudan as well as incoming refugees and returnees. Oxfam needs 30 million dollars to ramp up our humanitarian response.”

At least 50,000 people are said to be facing starvation in Jonglei State and the Pibor Administrative Area.

Oxfam has been working in South Sudan for over 30 years, and currently supports over 500,000 people with humanitarian assistance including clean water, hygiene facilities, food, fuel and income support.