Aid workers hold a banner urging parties to end attacks and killings of humanitarian workers and civilians, during the World Humanitarian Day celebrations in Juba, South Sudan, Aug. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu)
JUBA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudanese government on Saturday said it would strengthen safety of aid workers and humanitarian supplies by enhancing security and cooperation with aid organizations.
Hussein Mar Nyuot, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, told journalists during a news conference that authorities have noted with concern the difficulties aid workers and organizations endure while delivering help to South Sudan.
He said the government would adhere to all protocols governing humanitarian work.
"We in the government want to assure our partners that we stand for firm cooperation; firm coordination and we want to ensure that aid assistance that comes to our country is delivered to all our vulnerable people anywhere they are. By anywhere, we mean areas under the control of the government and areas that are still under pockets of the opposition," Nyuot said.
According to the UN, South Sudan has become a hostile environment for aid workers. Since the outbreak of civil war in December 2013, at least 82 aid workers have been killed, including 15 this year alone.
It said most of the victims are South Sudanese nationals, with more missing or in detention, and aid workers have routinely been subject to harassment and intimidation.
The UN Humanitarian Coordination Office (UNOCHA) on Friday called for an immediate end to attacks against civilians and aid workers as humanitarian efforts continue to be met with increasing access denials, killing of aid workers, and looting of humanitarian supplies.
The East African country is currently facing unprecedented levels of food insecurity, as nearly 6 million people, about 50 percent of the country's population, face severe food crisis.
Under international humanitarian law, intentional attacks against humanitarian relief personnel may constitute war crimes.
"We continue to witness increasing, deliberate and unprovoked attacks against civilians and aid workers in South Sudan. This should not be accepted as the norm," said Serge Tissot, the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan.
Nearly 630 humanitarian access incidents have been reported since January including attacks on humanitarian compounds, looting aid supplies and convoys across the country.
In July alone, 15 incidents of looting were reported across the country. Of particular concern were the six major incidents in which warehouses and trucks in transit were looted, leading to the loss of 670 tonnes of food aid in Eastern Equatoria, Lakes, Upper Nile and Warrap.
"When aid workers are endangered or under attack, millions of vulnerable people, who need food, health services, access to clean water, nutrition and education services, are deprived of the much needed help," said Tissot.
"We call upon all armed actors to stop targeting aid workers and civilians and to do everything possible to safeguard them," he said.
Responding to the concerns raised by the UN, Nyuot denied that the government has ever imposed restriction for delivery of relief assistance and movement of aid workers.
"We are not discriminating and the government doesn't impede any access of humanitarian delivery. We are neutral and we give humanitarian access to anybody because these are our own people," Nyuot said.
