The Humanitarian Community in South Sudan condemns latest attack and calls for an immediate end to violence against humanitarians – South Sudan
(Juba, March 20, 2023) The humanitarian community in South Sudan strongly condemns a targeted attack on humanitarian facilities and personnel in Jonglei State that left two people dead and others seriously injured.
On March 17, a humanitarian convoy of more than 100 trucks carrying food and other humanitarian supplies was attacked. Two contract drivers were shot dead in the attack, one fatally. Another person died in a traffic accident as a direct result of the incident. A humanitarian worker was also injured and is being treated. This is the latest in a series of escalating incidents targeting humanitarian convoys and workers. In January alone there were more than 20 violent incidents against humanitarian workers and assets, more than double the number in January 2022.
“The humanitarian community is appalled by the continued attacks on humanitarian workers and their assets. These recurring acts of violence are disrupting the delivery of life-saving assistance and must end,” said Mr. Meshack Malo, interim humanitarian assistance coordinator for South Sudan.
After the latest attack, the World Food Program (WFP) was forced to temporarily halt its convoy movements out of Bor, Jonglei state, for the second time in as many weeks to reassess mitigation measures. “This corridor is critical to our pre-wet season food supplies when roads are impassable and more than a million people in Jonglei and Pibor depend on the humanitarian food aid we transport along this route,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, Country Director for WFP in South Sudan. “The safety of employees and contractors is paramount and when incidents like this occur, it is the women, men and children who need urgent assistance who suffer the most,” she added.
South Sudan is one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, with nine humanitarian workers killed on duty and 418 reported incidents in 2022. Prior to this incident, three aid workers were killed while on duty delivering life-threatening emergencies since the beginning of the year Services for the most vulnerable affected by the ongoing humanitarian situation.
In 2023, 9.4 million people in South Sudan are expected to need humanitarian assistance or protection services. The humanitarian situation is worsened by endemic violence, access restrictions, operational interventions, public health challenges and climate shocks such as floods and local droughts. “As humanitarian workers continue to work tirelessly to provide much-needed vital assistance, the continuation of violent attacks is inadvertently hampering their efforts. We call on the authorities to take urgent action to improve security, protect civilians, humanitarian workers and property, and bring perpetrators to justice,” said Mr. Malo.
For more information please contact:
Joseph Inganji, Head of Office, [email protected]
Krasimira Antimova, Public Relations Officer, [email protected]
OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org/south-sudan or www.reliefweb.int.
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