Along with South Sudanese, aid workers are paying “a devastating price” as humanitarian operations in war-torn South Sudan are increasingly targeted according to United Nation (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
A weekend statement has him saying 10 million South Sudanese – over 60% of the population – continue to bear the brunt of the conflict between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), local militias such as the White Army as well as splinter groups.
Fighting, attacks and looting are affecting humanitarian and health facilities, as well as movement restrictions and insecurity along key supply routes. These conditions, the statement said, are “crippling humanitarian operations and shutting down essential services placing civilians and aid workers at serious risk”.
Since late December, at least 11 healthcare facilities were attacked in Jonglei State, disrupting critical services for communities already under severe strain. The assaults involved the seizure of 12 vehicles, including an ambulance.
“In the past week,” the statement said, incidents included “repeated attacks on a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy, an air strike on a hospital run by the Médecins Sans Frontières, and burning a Save the Children field office and destruction of its health centre”.
Guterres said “this clear disregard for medical and humanitarian operations is unacceptable” emphasising this type of work “must be facilitated and respected”.
Violence in the world’s youngest country has driven mass displacement, with over 370 000 people reportedly forced from their homes so far this year, including over 280 000 in Jonglei State, amid a rapidly worsening cholera outbreak.
South Sudan gained independence from Khartoum in 2011, descending into a brutal civil conflict marked by political rivalry, ethnic violence and repeated peace deal breakdowns soon afterwards.
A 2018 agreement notwithstanding, insecurity and localised fighting continue to undermine recovery and stability.
Guterres calls on all parties to “immediately and decisively halt all military operations”, de-escalate tensions through dialogue, uphold international law, protect civilians and ensure safe, sustained humanitarian access, including the security of aid workers and UN peacekeepers wearing blue helmets in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), established in July 2011.
