South Sudan assures aid workers of protection amid deepening humanitarian crisis

South Sudan officials promised on Thursday to improve security for humanitarian workers amid deepening humanitarian crisis, exacerbated due to influx of people across the border with Sudan since conflict erupted in April.

 The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed that 9.4 million people in the country – more than two-thirds of the population need humanitarian and protection assistance in 2023.

Manase Lomole Waya, the Chairperson for South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), said the transitional government of national unity is prioritizing improving protection for humanitarian workers to enable them respond to the humanitarian crisis.

 “In our country alone, since 2013, we have lost 141 humanitarian workers mainly South Sudanese, the government despite all difficulties is doing it’s best to make sure the loss of lives of humanitarian workers is eliminated,” Lomole said during commemoration of World Humanitarian Day in Juba.

The World Humanitarian Day is celebrated annually on August 19.

Albino Akol Atak, the minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, said they currently need assistance from the international community and humanitarian agencies more than ever to mitigate the worsening humanitarian crisis being felt especially in states bordering with Sudan.

 “South Sudan needs humanitarian support more than ever, we know that South Sudan is being classified as one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, but we are trying our own efforts to make the opposite,” Atak said.

Peter Van der Auweraert, Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, said humanitarian agencies have over the last two and half years, been struggling to take care of the protracted humanitarian crisis amid ongoing conflict in Sudan.

“The lack of a conducive environment for humanitarian workers significantly affects vital life-saving support to the most vulnerable, especially now as new crises put additional strain on the already fragile humanitarian situation,” Auweraert said.

He called on the government to provide more resources to support the most vulnerable.

 “When we talk about access to education, access to health that has to be the government as a whole to prioritize basic services. We cannot continue to rely on humanitarians to provide those services,” Auweraert said

South Sudan has recorded the highest number of attacks against aid workers, according to the 2023 Aid Worker Security Report1. 40 attacks on aid workers have occurred this year, leaving 22 aid workers dead and 36 injured.

Most security incidents were recorded in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Upper Nile State, Unity State, Central Equatoria State, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, and the Abyei Administrative Area.

Humanitarians require 1.7 billion U.S dollars to target 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people. As of August 16, the humanitarian response plan is funded only at 43.8 per cent.