Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she is offering to the World Health Organisation in the identification of the unidentified disease reported in the Fangak County of Jonglei State in South Sudan.

We are concerned at the increased incidents of disease and deaths in Fangak County. Following investigations, the Government of South Sudan has ascribed these primarily to an upsurge in malaria cases. These investigations have identified that illness and deaths have been exacerbated by flooding, which impacted treatment and restricted access to healthcare, including the prompt treatment of life-threatening malaria. We are in contact with the Government of South Sudan and international partners, notably the World Health Organisation (WHO), to better understand this and other health challenges in South Sudan as part of our work to help address the humanitarian crisis in the country.

As a leading donor to South Sudan the UK is helping to provide life-saving access to quality health, food, nutrition, water, sanitation and other services throughout the country. As part of this the UK has contributed to a number of funds helping those impacted by recent flooding. This includes the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which the UK was the third largest donor to globally in 2021. CERF has allocated $13 million in flood-affected areas, including $2 million to WHO to support 260,000 people with medical supplies and improved water and sanitation support to reduce the risk of disease. In addition the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, of which the UK is a donor, allocated $20 million for issues such as flooding, including $1 million to WHO for the flood response.