US urges nations to back UN appeal for Sudan refugees

 The United States Wednesday voiced concern at the "dire situation" facing Sudanese refugees in South Sudan, and called on other nations, donors and private companies to step up to support a UN appeal.

Washington urges "the international community to join us in our efforts to relieve suffering and assist those affected by the ongoing violence," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement, adding that the US administration had already provided $34 million in emergency aid.

There were now more than 150,000 Sudanese refugees in South Sudan, mainly fleeing from Sudan's Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states, he said.

There was concern about their access to water, while aid agencies, already lacking in resources, were struggling to improve the road network to allow access to the swelling refugee settlements.

"An even greater emergency could be on the horizon as the rainy season threatens to severely curtail access to refugee-hosting areas," Toner warned.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has appealed for $145 million to help prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, but Toner said despite the US contribution "70 percent remains unfunded."

"We call on all international partners to help us meet UNHCR's urgent request... We also urge all donors, as well as private companies that may have critically-needed equipment in the refugee-hosting areas of South Sudan, to provide additional support to the humanitarian response."

War broke out a year ago forcing increasing numbers of hungry people to flee Sudan's South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, into the neighboring fledgling state of South Sudan.

Despite months of international concern over malnutrition and food shortages, the Sudanese government, citing security factors, continues to tightly control access by foreign aid agencies to the area.

Ethnic Nuba of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) fought alongside southern rebels during Sudan's 22-year civil war which ended in a 2005 peace deal that paved the way for South Sudan's independence last July.

Fighting erupted in South Kordofan after the SPLM-N alleged fraud in elections and its armed wing was ordered to move into South Sudan.