The US announced more than $329-million in additional humanitarian assistance to provide urgently needed aid to the millions of people affected by food insecurity and violence in South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen.

This additional funding brings the total US humanitarian assistance for these four crises to nearly $1.2-billion since the beginning of fiscal year 2017, the US State Department said in a Thursday press release.

With this new assistance, the US is providing additional emergency food and nutrition assistance, safe drinking water, life-saving medical care, and shelter for those who have been displaced, both internally and as refugees, as well as protection for civilians.

The US is also supporting health, sanitation, and hygiene services to help stop the spread of preventable disease – a leading cause of death during food crises.

Tens of millions of people are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of the man-made crises in South Sudan, Nigeria, and Yemen – all of which are driven by violent conflict – and Somalia, where ongoing conflict is compounding the effects of severe and prolonged drought.

These crises are forcing people to flee within and beyond their country borders, disrupting agricultural production and livelihoods, and severing families from their social support systems.

Ongoing violence – including deliberate attacks on civilians and relief workers – continues to prevent aid from reaching those most in need.

“We commend the generosity of neighbouring countries to receive refugees fleeing these crises, and urge other humanitarian donors to increase their level of support during this critical time of need,” added the State Department.