UN condemns attack on aid workers, assets in Warrap

South Sudan United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim Arafat Jamal has condemned the recent violence in Warrap State where the aid workers and assets were targeted.

Mr Jamal urged the government to launch an investigation into the matter and ensure that culprits are brought to book. The UN official urged the government to step up in providing security to the aid workers because their continued attack would only spell doom to the efforts to cushion the starving communities.

“Humanitarian workers strive to deliver life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people in South Sudan, including women, children and older persons. Attacking them, looting assets and forcing humanitarian organizations to suspend activities is unacceptable and has to stop,” he said in a statement released on Tuesday.

He then added, “National and local authorities must strengthen law enforcement and ensure the safety of communities and humanitarian organizations. The trend of increased violence against humanitarians and humanitarian assets cannot continue.

We must be able to safely reach people in remote and highly food-insecure areas without the threat of attack. Acts of criminality must stop, and the perpetrators of the violence and looting brought to justice.”

Violence broke in Tonj North, Warrap State, on July 8 and spilt over to the next day causing deaths of dozens and displacements of at least 5,000 people.

In the process, the warring youth attacked World Food Programme (WFP) stores and looted food, vandalised health centres, schools and churches and burnt houses. According to the UN coordinator, the looting of food supplies now implies that more than 41,000 people are food-insecure.