The United Nations is asking its members for $1.16 billion in order to meet the humanitarian and development challenges in South Sudan, the world's newest and one of Africa's poorest and most fragile counties.

Next week, Toby Lanzer, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan will issue a Consolidated Appeal (CAP) for 2013, ahead of a global launch expected in mid-December.

The CAP for South Sudan, aid agencies say, reflect the humanitarian community's collective commitment to reducing suffering, providing protection, and boosting the resilience of the most vulnerable people of the young nation.

The appeal, reportedly made by 114 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies working in close coordination with South Sudan government, seeks to address the needs of the food insecure population, refugees, displaced people, returnees and other vulnerable people in the young nation.

Less than two years since its independence, South Sudan has made some progress but has been hampered by border tensions with Sudan, an influx of over 100,000 refugees from fighting north of the border and insecurity caused by localised rebellions and cattle raids and related violence.

The humanitarian situations in the country remain fragile and many challenges confront the estimated 12 million people living in the country.

Inflation has risen on food and other essential products for most of the year, largely caused by the ongoing dispute with Khartoum over oil transit fees, making life harder for many South Sudanese in 2012

Early this year, a UN assessment said up to 4.7 million South Sudanese were food insecure, with at least one million at risk of facing severe hunger.

In 2013, aid agencies anticipate more people will require food and livelihoods support in the country.