![South Sudan's minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, Albino Akol Atak, speaks during the launch of Early Warning for All Initiative and inception workshop for water at heart climate action project held in Juba on Monday [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6949.jpg?resize=1024%2C614&quality=89&ssl=1)
Akol addressed the National Legislative Assembly, highlighting the influx of people from both within South Sudan and neighboring Sudan, where recent conflict has displaced many.
“The situation is cause for serious concern,” Akol said. “As of today, a staggering 9 million people require critical humanitarian services in South Sudan. This includes 7.1 million who need food assistance during the lean season, with a concerning number of 1.65 million malnourished children.”
Akol elaborated on the population movements impacting South Sudan. He noted that 2.3 million South Sudanese fled the country during the brutal 2013-2016 conflict, while an additional 2.2 million remain internally displaced within its borders.
However, there have also been some returns. Akol reported that approximately 1.3 million refugees have chosen to come back home since the signing of the Revitalize Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan in 2018.
He broke this figure down further, explaining that over 500,000 returned voluntarily, while over 700,000 were forcibly displaced due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the concerning situation in Ethiopia.
Looking ahead, Akol announced that the government plans to allocate $50 million to support people affected by recent flooding.
This initial aid will focus on providing essential supplies, including food and medicine, for 1 million people.
