Humanitarian organizations said they experienced access restrictions in South Sudan over the course of 2012.
Humanitarian partners reported in a press statement 197 access incidents over the year, almost double of 2011 and the highest number of incidents was recorded in Juba, UNOCHA said in its South Sudan Humanitarian Update.The statement added that most severe access constraints were observed in Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile and Warrap states.
The overall rise in access constraints was attributed to increased interference into the implementation of humanitarian activities due to higher numbers of bureaucratic impediments in 2012 than in previous years.
Direct violence or threats of violence against aid workers, assets or premises continued to make up the majority of incidents.
The commandeering of relief vehicles remained a particular challenge, with more than 79 vehicles affected in 2012 and increase in occupation of humanitarian compounds, with more than 25 incidents reported.