By James Innocent
Authorities in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, reaffirmed their commitment this week to strengthening security of humanitarian aid workers and ensuring the smooth delivery of essential services to the community.
The pledge came during a high-level coordination meeting held over the week at County Headquarters in Yei River County.
The one-day meeting convened key stakeholders, including Yei River County Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme, representatives from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the Red Cross, SUHA, Malteser International, UNHCR, and local community representatives.
Commissioner Taban assured humanitarian organizations of a peaceful working environment, pledging the government’s commitment to safeguarding aid workers operating throughout the county.
This reassurance follows a recent security incident where five people were abducted along Yei-Maridi Road, seven kilometres from Pisak Boma. The abductees were en route to a peace dialogue between the people of Logo Boma and nomadic pastoralists. Two abductees were released the same day, while two other humanitarian workers from the Organization for Nonviolence were freed two days after they were kidnaped.
Paramount Chief of Yei River County, Joseph Brown Lomosee, who was among those abducted, was also later released.
Speaking during the meeting Yei River County Commissioner emphasized the critical roles humanitarian organizations play in service delivery to the local population.
He stressed that both local and international humanitarian organizations operating in the county should be allowed easy access and delivery of essential social services in the county to support vulnerable communities. “These organizations are here to serve our people, and we must ensure their safety and freedom of movement,” he stated.
James Mugo Murithihi, a humanitarian representative, commended the county government for its commitment to securing aid workers across Yei River County’s five Payams. He called for improved security conditions to allow unhindered and unrestricted movement for humanitarian staff across various parts of the county.
Meanwhile, another traditional chief in Yei River County stressed the importance of safeguarding both civilians and aid workers, adding that they play a vital role in the well-being and recovery process of communities.
The meeting concluded with renewed pledges of cooperation between government authorities, humanitarian partners, and local leadership to uphold peace and ensure life-saving services reach all areas in need.