South Sudanese army denies restricting humanitarian planes

December 9, 2014 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese army (SPLA) has dismissed as “false” and “misinterpreted” reports that it imposed new restrictions on all aid organisations operating in the young nation.

The army’s response came after Brig. Gen Majier Deng Kur, the current head of the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, ordered all aid organisations in the country to declare their cargo when seeking clearance for flights.

“When you are applying for flight clearance assurance, you are requested to attach the waybill and the detail of all the items that you’re carrying to the field,” Kur said in a letter to aid agencies last month.

The SPLA spokesperson, Colonel Philip Aguer, however, said the order was not intended to impose restrictions on activities of the humanitarian agencies in the country.

“This order is intended to ensure that humanitarian flight operations in the country are safeguarded from insecurity. It was not meant for restriction on their operations and think what happened is a misinterpretation,” Aguer said on Tuesday.

“Nobody has stopped them [agencies] from flying anywhere”.

South Sudan president, Salva Kiir and opposition leader, Riek earlier permitted unrestricted humanitarian access to civilians in need. About two million people have been displaced since conflict broke out in the nation last year, with the numbers expected to rise.

(ST)