Save the Children Country Director in South Sudan Rama Hansraj condemned the killing of three humanitarian workers and children during inter-communal violence in Jonglei and Warrap States.
‘We are appalled to hear of the latest wave of communal violence in Jonglei and Warrap states, with reports of hundreds being killed and injured, as well as children and their families being forced to flee their homes in terror’, She said.
‘We are also alarmed to hear of reports of the abduction of children in Jonglei state, which sadly has happened in this area in the past’, the country director added in a statement issued on Friday.
Hansraj noted that children and their families in South Sudan have already seen too many disasters in their lives.
‘We are deeply saddened at the reported deaths of three humanitarian workers in this violence. Humanitarian workers put their lives on the line in the service of children and families in South Sudan. It is unacceptable they were killed while rendering humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable communities’, the country director said.
‘We call on the government of South Sudan to take all necessary actions to protect humanitarian workers in the country’, she pointed out.
‘Save the Children calls for all parties to this conflict to respect civilian lives and bring an end to fighting, killings and destroying of homes, read part of the statement.
‘We call on the government of South Sudan, the United Nations and the African Union to take action to bring an end to communal violence in Jonglei and Warrap states and the armed conflict in Eastern and Central Equatoria so that lives of South Sudanese children who are suffering from violence can be spared’, Hansraj appealed.
The country directed called for deterrent to those responsible from continuing attacks against civilians and children for them to be held accountable under South Sudanese and international laws.
NGOs strongly condemn killing of humanitarian workers in tribal violence
The South Sudan NGO Forum deeply condemned the killing of three humanitarian workers and the widespread inter-communal violence that has plagued Jonglei State and other parts of the country for several months, displacing thousands of people.
The forum in a statement on Friday said aid workers and civilians must never be a target of violence or armed conflict.
Its extends its deepest condolences to the families, colleagues, and friends of the three humanitarian workers who were killed in Pieri during last week’s fighting, and wishes the injured humanitarian workers a speedy recovery.
The NGO Forum called on the Government of South Sudan to provide necessary safety and security for all citizens and humanitarian workers.
It called on political leaders to collaboratively finalise the appointments of state governors which is key to stabilising situations of inter-communal violence across South Sudan.