Flags of the Troika Countries | File photo.

Embassies of the Western world in Juba have called on the transitional government to increase its financial contribution to the humanitarian effort to ease suffering and save lives in South Sudan.

They include the Embassies of Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Delegation of the European Union.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the group says the international community has provided more than 1 billion US dollars in humanitarian assistance in South Sudan this year alone.

But despite this, they said ‘ We are all appalled by the conflict in Sudan which has created dire additional humanitarian needs and has placed an extra burden on the South Sudanese people.”

According to them, the transitional government is yet to take concrete steps to reduce the costs of delivering aid, exacerbated by checkpoints and other illicit efforts to extract revenue from humanitarian aid operations.

The diplomatic missions say they “expect the transitional government to be a full partner in the effort to ease suffering and save lives in South Sudan by increasing its financial contribution to the humanitarian effort.”

The diplomats also stressed that ending the humanitarian crisis requires an environment conducive to substantial economic growth and reduced dependency.

“Such an environment will only be possible if the transitional government meets its peace commitments, introduces transparency and accountability, and prioritizes the use of public revenue to meet public needs.”