UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, strongly condemned attacks on civilians and aid workers.
“I strongly condemn the continued violence across the country that affects the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers, constrains humanitarian access, and disrupts the delivery of aid and services to vulnerable people”, she stressed.
The Coordinator in a statement issued on Wednesday said these appalling acts of violence against civilians and humanitarians must stop.
She said “attacks against civilians and humanitarians and their assets, along with the destruction and looting of aid supplies intended for the most vulnerable are unacceptable”.
The coordinator vowed that humanitarians are committed to alleviating the suffering of people affected by violence, food insecurity, climate and health crises among other crises in South Sudan.
Beysolow stressed that “we need a safe environment to operate so that we can focus on what matters most: helping people in need in South Sudan”.
“I want to express my condolences to the families of the aid workers who were killed in Agok and Mirmir while in the service of the most vulnerable. My thoughts are also with the injured health workers and I wish them a speedy and full recovery’, she said.
The coordinator pointed out that attacks against civilians and humanitarian assets constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The humanitarian community urges all parties to the conflict to respect international law and protect civilians and humanitarian personnel and assets.
It also calls on authorities to conduct a full investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
On 10 February, a nurse working with an international aid organization was killed and several civilians, including aid workers, were injured in Agok town due to sub-national violence in Twic County, Warrap State, and the Abyei Administrative Area.
Some 70,000 people have been displaced by the fighting; and humanitarian operations, including healthcare, have been temporarily suspended.
Also on 10 February, an aid worker was killed by crossfire during fighting in Mirmir in Unity State.
Additionally, a women and girls friendly centre was reportedly looted, a health and nutrition facility temporarily closed, and the access route to up to 500,000 people in need in Unity State has been jeopardized.
Also in Unity State, on 12 February, a clearly marked humanitarian vehicle came under fire on its way to a health facility, resulting in the grave injury of three health workers.
Since 2013, 130 humanitarian workers were killed, while delivering humanitarian aid and services, majority are South Sudanese.