S. Sudan: UN official warns over attacks on aid workers

March 2, 2013 (JUBA) – The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan has called for protection of aid workers involved in provision of services to people affected by conflict in the country’s troubled Jonglei state.

“I have been informed of attacks on humanitarian actors and the seizure of humanitarian assets and commodities. This must stop,” said Toby Lanzer, who is also the deputy Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG).

The top UN official, in a statement, said civilians in need of aid and protection from violence move freely, and that all armed actors respect the provision of “impartial, neutral and independent humanitarian action”.

To date, the UN and its humanitarian partners in South Sudan have reportedly responded to the needs of over 23,000 people in Jonglei’s Akobo West County, where a 8 February attack on Walgak village led to over 100 deaths and left dozens injured.

An integrated UN team, according to the statement, which includes human rights officers from the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – is in Walgak to support local authorities in gathering information and interviewing survivors in a field hospital to ascertain exactly what happened.

Humanitarian workers in Pibor County, Lanzer said, are aiding at least 19,000 civilian, in the aftermath of inter-communal violence and hostilities in the region.

He urged armed actors to differentiate between civilians and people directly involved in hostilities, regardless of their ethnicity or location, while calling upon South Sudan’s government to strengthen efforts to ensure law and order and to hold those responsible to account.

Nearly two years since its independence, various parts of South Sudan experience inter-communal violence, with Jonglei, Lakes, Warrap and Unity state’s witnessing numerous cases of cattle raids and tribal clashes.

(ST)