South Sudan apologizes for death of humanitarian workers

JUBA, NOV. 9, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The government of South Sudan has apologized for the loss of humanitarian workers who have died while serving the country in the health sector.

This apology came during a photo exhibition celebrating 40 years of operation by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in South Sudan.

Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah, deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, commended the work of MSF and acknowledged that the country has a number of armed groups that “don’t have goals and vision” and may not be aware that their actions are against international law.

“On behalf of the government of South Sudan, we are sorry for the loss of lives of some of your staff in South Sudan,” Abdallah said.

“Forty years of operation in South Sudan for MSF has seen them providing services to our people, not only health services, but also more than that during times of need. South Sudan is totally different from other countries,” he added.

Abdallah contrasted the situation in South Sudan with that in other countries where MSF operates, saying that in those countries, “you go to the offices and you go to the clinic, you do your work and you come back.” In South Sudan, however, MSF staff work in a conflict zone.

Antony Ayuel, board member of MSF’s East Africa Association, revealed that some of MSF’s staff have been killed while on duty in South Sudan.

“In Leer, Mankien, Northern Bhar el Ghazal, Bentiu, and Malakal, where MSF has been present for about 30 years, our operations have had to be closed or suspended on numerous occasions due to insecurity incidents, lack of guarantees for team safety, looting and attacks on our facilities, ambushes, robberies, abductions, and violations of international humanitarian law,” Ayuel said.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has stated that South Sudan has been the most dangerous place in the world for aid workers for several years running.

As of August 10, there had been 40 attacks on humanitarian staff in South Sudan, resulting in 22 deaths.