Violence against aid workers escalates in South Sudan – Jamal

JUBA – The UN Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Arafat Jamal, has expressed concerns over the recent upsurge in attacks against aid workers in the country.

“Every day, aid workers, most of whom are South Sudanese, find themselves in the cross-hairs of violent action, and every day they are risking their lives to provide assistance to the most vulnerable people in need in South Sudan,” Jamal said in a statement issued in Juba to mark World Humanitarian Day on Thursday.

According to the UN, there has been a rise in the number of attacks against aid workers – aid workers who serve the community since March 2021.

The UN official said four aid workers were ambushes and killed on clearly marked humanitarian convoys while carrying out their duties this year.

He said the killing of four aid workers bring the number of aid workers killed in South Sudan mostly South Sudanese since 2013 when conflict broke out to 128.

“This year the effects continue to be felt, with a worsening the food security situation and some communities are now facing catastrophic needs,” he said.

‘Flooding is not a new phenomenon in South Sudan described biblically as the “nation whose land the rivers have spoiled” he said.

According to the UN official, the level of food insecurity and malnutrition is at the highest since independence ten years ago.

“South Sudan regularly experiences torrential rains, seasonal flooding and locust infestation in parts of the country – and it is its most vulnerable people who suffer the effects in life-changing ways,” he said.

“Last year, more than a million people were impacted by a second consecutive year of major flooding, with women and children most affected,” he said.