September 7th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – A inter-agency humanitarian convoy has reached Baggari region in South Sudan’s Western Bhar El-Ghazal State for the first time since it was cut off in June due to renewed fighting in the area.
Lack of security and safety guarantees for aid workers has left some 28,000 people in the area that is southwest of Wau town in dire need of humanitarian assistance in recent months.
The new development is the improvement in the security situation in the area since the signing of the permanent ceasefire agreement in the Sudanese capital Khartoum between warring sides.
A 14-truck convoy, led by the World Food Programme (WFP), brought 40 aid workers from 11 organizations into Baggari on Wednesday.
The teams, some of which are already assisting people, are due to start a count on Friday to determine the number of people in need and their conditions with the distribution of food items expected over the weekend.
The organizations involved includes the UNICEF, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, International Organization for Migration, ACTED, Oxfam, Islamic Relief, Community Organization for Emergency and Rehabilitation, Johanniter International, Hold the Child, Islamic Relief and the WFP.
The WFP Acting country director Simon Cammelbeeck said “Access to vulnerable people continues to be challenging in South Sudan.”
He called on the parties to the conflict to easy humanitarian access and guarantee safety for aid workers struggling to reach displaced citizens in different parts of the country.
“The Baggari operation was only possible after lengthy negotiations. While thanking state and local authorities in Wau State, who have been instrumental in ensuring access and the safety of humanitarian workers, we renew our call on all parties to the conflict to provide full and unimpeded access to all affected people in the country,” he said.
