Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement released here today that Australia will provide South Sudan with a grant assistance worth $3 million to help alleviate sufferings of the communities affected by continuing disturbances in the country. Bishop said the Joint Humanitarian Fund affiliated to the United Nations will use this additional finance as an assistance to achieve the urgent requirements, including protection of civilians, and provision of food, water, shelter, public health and medical assistance. The statement said Australia urges the government and opposition of South Sudan to abide by their commitments and promptly cease fire and start a comprehensive and peaceful political dialogue. It pointed out that this amount brings to $43 million the total assistance yet provided by Australia to South Sudan since 2012.