UN decries rising number of attacks on aid workers
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed concern about the increasing attacks on aid workers, the very group responding with life-saving assistance in South Sudan.
Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan on Friday, said this month alone; three humanitarian workers lost their lives in the line of duty in South Sudan.
“My deepest sympathies go to the families and loved ones of our colleagues who lost their lives while providing much-needed humanitarian assistance,” Nyanti said in a statement issued in Juba.
Nyanti noted that continuous violence against civilians and humanitarian workers affects the delivery of life-saving support to people in a protracted dire situation.
“People in South Sudan are living in insecurity, and a fast-deteriorating humanitarian crisis and those working tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable continue to lose their lives,” she said.
She said access constraints, bureaucratic impediments, widespread criminality, inter-communal violence, and revenge killings hamper the work of humanitarian actors.
“As humanitarian actors in South Sudan, both national and international, we call upon armed individuals and respective authorities to safeguard the lives of civilians and humanitarians,” Nyanti said.
Since the beginning of 2022, eight humanitarian workers were killed while on duty.
As of 31 August, 275 incidents of humanitarian access constraints were reported of which 141 involved violence against humanitarian personnel and assets.
The highest numbers of incidents were reported in Jonglei, Central Equatoria, and Unity State.
On 25th September, in Kuach Payam of Guit County, Unity State an aid worker of an international NGO was shot dead in a warehouse.
On 19 September, at a Health/Nutrition facility in an IDP site in Bentiu, Unity State, a humanitarian working for a UN agency was killed.
On 9th September, in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Jonglei State, armed individuals ambushed two staff members deployed by a healthcare NGO and killed one of them. All three victims were South Sudanese citizens.
