Nov 04, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — OCHA has condemned the killing of the second humanitarian aid worker by armed youth in South Sudan, just one day after another humanitarian lost his life while providing assistance.
According to a statement by the NGO, on 30th October, a community mobilizer working for Nile Hope, a South Sudanese non-governmental organization, in Canal of Pigi County in Jonglei State was fatally shot by armed youth on his way from the organization’s base to a facility providing supplementary feeding and outpatient therapeutic care to malnourished children and new mothers.
His colleague escaped with minor injuries. All humanitarian services have been temporarily suspended in the area following the shooting.
The incident happened just one day after the 29th October killing of another worker in the same State.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Alain Noudéhou, has condemned the killing saying he is appalled by repeated acts of violence against humanitarian aid workers.
“I am appalled by these repeated acts of violence against humanitarians. South Sudanese aid workers are enduring difficult conditions to deliver lifesaving assistance to their fellow citizens and should be protected,” he said.
He also called for the perpetrators to be identified and brought to account.
“The violence and the impunity must stop. We need safety and security of the people receiving and delivering aid.” He said
Mr. Noudéhou said that South Sudanese aid workers are enduring difficult conditions while on duty to deliver lifesaving assistance to their fellow citizens and should be protected.
The two humanitarian workers killed in the past week were South Sudanese who were delivering critical nutrition services to vulnerable people affected by conflict and flooding.
The incident brings the number of humanitarian workers killed this year in South Sudan to nine – this is three times the total number of humanitarian aid workers who met their death in 2019.
A total of 124 aid workers, mostly South Sudanese, have lost their lives in line of duty since the conflict broke out in late 2013.
