United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressing the media in Juba. [Gurtong | Waakhe Simon Wudu]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 04 August 2012 [Gurtong] - The announcement was made by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to South Sudan.
She said her government has given more than 50 million US dollars to address the humanitarian crisis of Blue Nile and South Kordofan refugees.
Mrs Clinton expressed deep concern on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.
At least 200,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in the country following conflicts between their government and rebel groups in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
During the visit, Mrs Clinton called on Sudan and South Sudan to urgently reach a binding deal on the outstanding issues.
“Now it is urgent that both sides reach timely agreements on all outstanding issues including oil revenue, security, citizenship, and border demarcation,” Clinton told the press shortly after meeting the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir in Juba.
She said it is time for the two nations to sign a binding agreement on the matters adding that peace and prosperity of the two nations is only dependent on their mutual cooperation as neighbors.
“It is time for Sudan and South to reach an agreement that allows both countries to prosper”, she added.
She stressed the need for the infant nation to closely observe democratic principles of transparency, freedom, and inclusivity.
Meanwhile, the South Sudanese Foreign Minister Nhial Deng Nhial thanked the US government for her continuous support to the infant nation.
Nhial called on US to continuously put pressure on the Addis Ababa talks so as a deal can be reached.