UN condemns hostilities against aid workers in South Sudan

The United Nations relief agency on Friday condemned increased hostilities against aid workers in South Sudan, which it said is limiting humanitarian access and disrupting the delivery of services to thousands of vulnerable people.

JUBA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations relief agency on Friday condemned increased hostilities against aid workers in South Sudan, which it said is limiting humanitarian access and disrupting the delivery of services to thousands of vulnerable people.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 33 humanitarian access incidents were reported across the country in September, undermining the safe, free, and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance.

"Key access challenges included physical access constraints, violence against humanitarian personnel and assets, bureaucratic impediments, and operational interference," OCHA said in its latest report released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

OCHA said the humanitarian crew who are committed to alleviating the suffering of people affected by violence, food insecurity, climate, and health crises in South Sudan risk their lives every day to provide much-needed aid to vulnerable people there.

It also said the security situation along the Juba-Nimule Road, following an attack on a passenger bus, has posed a significant threat to the supply of goods to Juba Market. "This southerly route serves as a lifeline for South Sudan, connecting the country to Uganda and East African markets and supplying essential food and non-food items across the country's markets."

The UN agency said the abduction of humanitarian staff for ransom in Central Equatoria State forced the global medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to suspend health services in Yei County, leaving the population with reduced access to health care, including community-based activities in remote areas.

OCHA said bureaucratic impediments, including multiple checkpoints, harassment of transport operators, interference with recruitment processes, boat seizures, and the denial of access to quarrying sites in Malakal, continued to impact access to aid.

"These issues caused delays, increased costs, and disrupted critical services," it added. ■