Minister Bibeau to travel to South Sudan

June 15, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, will travel to South Sudan to witness first-hand the situation in the country, including the severe food crisis affecting close to half the population.

An armed conflict is still raging in South Sudan, which is one of the countries most affected by ongoing food crises in the region. A famine crisis, declared by multiple UN agencies, affects mainly South Sudan’s Greater Unity region. In order to address the unprecedented humanitarian situation in the broader region, Canada launched the Famine Relief Fund on May 29, 2017. For every eligible donation made by individuals to registered Canadian charities between March 17 and June 30, 2017, the Government of Canada will contribute an equivalent amount to the Famine Relief Fund.

During her trip, Minister Bibeau will meet with development and humanitarian partners and representatives of local civil society, including woman leaders, to discuss efforts to assist the most vulnerable and to bring stability to the country. She will also visit areas of food insecurity to observe humanitarian relief efforts and speak with affected civilians.

Minister Bibeau will also be meeting with senior South Sudanese government officials to underscore the importance of a political solution to the conflict, which requires inclusion and reconciliation of the South Sudanese people to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and development.