Washington, May 19, 2014 (Xinhua/NAN) US President Barack Obama has authorised 50 million dollars in fresh humanitarian aid to South Sudan.

John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, said the president said giving the assistance was very important to South Sudan national interest.

He said it had become imperative to provide the assistance to meet unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs resulting from the crisis in South Sudan.

Obama said the money would fund international, governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as cover expenses of the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration in the region.

Caitlin Hayden, White House National Security Council Spokeswoman, said the 50 million dollars would be part of a 300 million dollars assistance the U.S. delegation would unveil at the forth coming pledging conference in Oslo, Norway.

She said this was bringing the total U.S. humanitarian aid since the start of the conflict in South Sudan to some 433.6 million dollars.

Hayden said months of conflict between the government of South Sudan and rebel forces had exacted a terrible toll on the people of South Sudan.

She said more than 1.3 million people had been displaced, and the country was now at the risk of famine unless humanitarian agencies are able to scale up relief efforts and access those in need.

Hayden noted that the cease-fire agreement reached between South Sudan’s warring sides on May 9 had failed again to stem the conflict which broke out in mid-December last year.

– Xinhua/NAN