By Taban Henry
South Sudan has been ranked the most violent country for humanitarian aid workers followed by Afghanistan and Syria.
This came on Thursday in a press conference as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs prepares to celebrate the international world humanitarian day.
According to the UNOCHA reports, at least five humanitarian workers were killed in line of duty since the beginning of 2022.
In an address to the media, Sara Beysolow Nyanti said that South Sudan continues to be the most violent country for aid workers, followed by Afghanistan and Syria while adding five humanitarian workers were killed in line of duty in South Sudan since the beginning of 2022.
He added that across the country, humanitarian workers and overwhelmingly national humanitarian workers are affected by the impact of armed violence, bureaucratic impediments and targeted violence.
“232 incidents related to humanitarian access constraints where reported between 1st January and 30th July this year. The areas where humanitarian access constraints were the highest experienced were Jonglei and Central Equatoria which account for 40% of all the reported incidents since the beginning of the year,” she said.
Nyanti added that people across the country especially women and girls face many protection risks including conflict related and gender based sexual violence crime, abductions and destruction of properties adding that this critical risks are compounded by rule of law and access to justice deficits.
“Impunity is a perpetuating factor and a driver of conflict and insecurity. There is an urgent need to bring perpetrators to justice. We need strengthened joint action, multidimensional dialogue and engagement to address this. All armed factions must immediately cease targeting civilians, humanitarian personnel and their assets. Impunity must end,” she added.
The humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan called for a joint action to address the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and immediate attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers.
She however expressed appreciation and respect to aid workers, communities, local authorities and first responders that provide life-saving assistance to thousands of people experiencing dire humanitarian needs.
“It takes a village to raise a child. In the same way, it takes an array of partners to support crisis-affected people. We need urgent collective efforts to help the vulnerable population in South Sudan. I commend the humanitarian workers and all those risking their own lives to alleviate the suffering and save the lives of others,” Nyanti stated.
Nyanti hinted out that the humanitarian community and partners step up to respond every day by providing food and livelihood support, health, nutrition and clean water, protection services, emergency education to millions of women, children and men.