May 2, 2021 (JUBA) - The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has condemned the recent violent attacks against aid workers in South Sudan, urging authorities and communities to guarantee safety of humanitarians.

Alain Noudéhou, the Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Getty)

On April 28, humanitarian workers from a UN agency and a national non-governmental organization were physically assaulted by youth in separate incidents in the Eastern Equatoria State capital, Torit.

Separately, on April 24, youth attacked humanitarian workers inside an NGO compound in Jamjang County in the Ruweng Administrative Area, leaving a number of them with serious injuries.

The Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Alain Noudehou said, humanitarian organizations are working across South Sudan to deliver the much-needed assistance to the vulnerable communities.

“Attacks against them are completely unacceptable and must stop. I urge authorities and communities to guarantee the safety and security of aid workers, and the Government to enforce law and order,” he stressed.

The attacks have reportedly forced some organizations to relocate staff to safer areas and are limiting movements due to insecurity.

In addition, some organisations have either suspended or scaled down activities, including critical health and nutrition assistance.

More than 30,000 people in South Sudan are likely to be in famine, while tens of thousands more are on the brink of starvation, international food security experts say. However, the government says only 11,000 are facing starvation, nearly 10 times less than what experts estimated.

(ST)