Some 78 incidents of aid operations were reported in August in South Sudan with most occurring in Jonglei, Central Equatoria and Upper Nile, the UN humanitarian agency said on Tuesday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said of these, 23 per cent involved violence against humanitarian personnel and 26 per cent involved violence against humanitarian assets.
“This demonstrates how access to key locations where people are in need remains challenging, leaving civilians, aid workers and assets exposed to harm,” it said in its latest report.
“Operational interference, restrictions of movement, and bureaucratic and administrative impediments accounted for 48 per cent, or close to half of all reported incidents,” said the UN humanitarian agency.
South Sudan has been embroiled in five years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people, creating one of the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.
A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.
The warring parties again signed the revitalised peace deal in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, amid international pressure to uphold the latest peace deal.
According to OCHA, eight humanitarian staff were detained in August, as the increasing trend involving staff detentions continues.
OCHA noted that three separate humanitarian convoys were looted within one week in Kapoeta East and Eastern Equatoria, all involving the looting of humanitarian supplies.
It said government security forces eased the restriction of movement of humanitarians to Greater Baggari in August, opening up access following two months of restricted humanitarian movement.
“This has allowed assessments of need and initial assistance to reach the population that had fled their homes due to violence,” it said. Xinhua/NAN
