The United States has condemned an armed attack on World Food Programme (WFP) workers and the forced offloading of humanitarian food supplies in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, warning that the incident threatens assistance for thousands of vulnerable people.
In a statement issued on Monday, the US said the September 29 incident in Chuilbong targeted humanitarian operations intended to deliver food to communities in need, describing it as another example of armed actors exploiting aid at the expense of South Sudan’s most vulnerable people.
“Humanitarian workers must never be targets,” the statement affirmed, urging South Sudan’s leaders and all parties to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access, prevent further attacks and hold those responsible accountable.
Washington also described the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan as man-made and called on the country’s leaders to use public revenue to provide basic services for their citizens.
According to the WFP, armed youths assaulted and threatened two humanitarian staff members at gunpoint on September 29, blocking a river convoy carrying food assistance to Mogok in Ayod County, Jonglei State.
The agency said it instructed the convoy to offload food supplies under duress after repeated efforts to secure safe passage failed and local authorities were unable to guarantee the safety of its personnel.
An estimated 162.54 metric tonnes of food assistance, intended to feed 4,400 vulnerable people in Mogok for three months, were forcibly offloaded, the WFP said in a statement on October 5.
The remaining convoy, carrying approximately 291.48 metric tonnes of food allocated for communities in southern Ayod, returned safely to Malakal on October 2, along with humanitarian personnel and staff from partner organisation Action Against Hunger.
The WFP called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and ensure the safe and unhindered movement of humanitarian personnel and supplies.
The incident comes amid escalating violence, political instability and intercommunal clashes in South Sudan, where attacks on aid workers and insecurity continue to disrupt humanitarian operations.
