Belgium sends €3 million aid for South Sudanese refugees

Belgium will release €3 million in support to South Sudanese refugees who have fled their homeland amid an ongoing civil war.

More than a million inhabitants of the East-Central African country have had no other option but to cross borders into Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Central African Republic.

The Belgian Development Cooperation will send funds, as part of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees programme, to both Uganda and DR Congo.

Alexander De Croo, minister for international cooperation and development, said: "In South Sudan, one of the youngest countries in the world, human suffering is terrible.

"The responsibility of the South Sudanese political leaders is overwhelming. They are putting their own interests over the safety of their 11 million fellow citizens. As humanitarian needs are critical, I have decided to support the Congolese and Ugandan authorities on the humanitarian level in welcoming the many refugees."

The South Sudanese civil war broke out back in 2013 following an coup d’état by forces in opposition to the government. A peace agreement was reached in January 2014, however, rebel group Cobra Faction reignited their anti-government hostilities in September last year.

In 2016, Belgium made available a total of €21.4 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees programme.