Yesterday Ambassador Michael J. Adler visited the Wedweil Resettlement Site, the main receiving site for refugees from Sudan. He was joined by Embassy personnel as well as by a visitor from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. The Ambassador met with representatives of the refugee and host communities, as well as with senior officials from the transitional state and national governments. He thanked all of the South Sudanese and international partners who are providing assistance to the refugees. He expressed appreciation for South Sudan’s decision to keep its border open to those fleeing the conflict in Sudan and to the state government for providing additional land for the camp.
Ambassador Adler noted that U.S. Government assistance to refugees in South Sudan this year will exceed $100 million. He called on the transitional government to increase its financial contribution to aid the over 250,000 refugees and returnees who have fled to South Sudan from Sudan since April 15.
The United States supports the Wedweil site through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme, and other implementing partners. We know that the work of these organizations depends on the dedication of humanitarian workers who put their safety at risk to help people in one of the most dangerous contexts in the world. Over 140 humanitarian workers have died in South Sudan since 2013; the vast majority of them have been South Sudanese who were seeking to serve the people of their own country. The transitional government has an obligation to protect aid workers and to pursue accountability for crimes committed against them.
For more information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section: Emmanuel Kulang, Strategic Communications Coordinator | kulangea@state.gov |+211 0926770234
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