Roundup: UN urges South Sudan to protect aid workers

The UN relief official for South Sudan on Friday called for an end to impunity for violence against aid workers in Africa's newest nation and called for their protection.

Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Ahmed Warsame said the humanitarian situation in South Sudan is worsening due to continued violence and restrictions on delivery of live-saving assistance to people in need, calling on the government to urgently open relief corridors.

"The situation is not getting better. We have seen increased dependency on humanitarian aid, malnutrition is on the rise, diseases outbreaks are common, and access to people in need of humanitarian aid is becoming extremely difficult and sadly aid workers are being targeted day in and day out," he told journalists in Juba.

He was speaking during an event to mark the World Humanitarian Day where UN workers held lit candles and observed a minute of silence to honor their colleagues killed or harmed by violence in South Sudan.

The silence pays tribute to colleagues who have lost their lives in humanitarian service, as well as to those who are staying and delivering assistance, and those affected by attacks against aid workers.

Since the conflict in South Sudan began in December 2013, at least 59 aid workers, most of whom are South Sudanese, have been killed. In the first seven months of 2016 alone, there were more than 470 humanitarian access incidents reported and humanitarian compounds, supplies and convoys were attacked and looted across the country, including in Pibor, Leer, Malakal, Raja and Juba.

During the July fighting in Juba, millions of dollars' worth of aid was looted, and a compound housing humanitarians was stormed by armed men in uniform, with one aid worker killed and others raped and beaten.

Warsame said Juba authorities must investigate reports of violence committed against aid workers and punish those responsible for the killing of 59 aid workers since 2013.

"Impunity must come to an end and public accountability must be preserved at all levels. Women and girls including female humanitarian workers must be protected at all times and at any cost. End this war and end impunity," Warsame said.

Allegations of violence against aid workers operating in South Sudan have drawn international condemnation following escalation of violence last month.

The UN peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) also accused armed groups of committing sexual violence on more than 100 women and girls in Juba during four days of fighting between rival army factions last month.

The UN World Food Program South Sudan Country Director Joyce Luma said the death of aid workers will not deter aid agencies from helping the people, adding that the government and aid agencies need to restore cooperation.

"This world humanitarian day calls for global humanity to stand together for everybody affected by crisis and unite to continue serving the people despite the difficult situations," Luma said.

World Humanitarian Day is marked every year on Aug. 19 to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service and to mobilize people to advocate for a more humane world.

In South Sudan, humanitarian organizations have reached more than 2.8 million people with vital humanitarian assistance and protection in 2016.

The UN says violence in the world's youngest nation has displaced 1.6 million people internally and over 900,000 others fled into neighboring countries. Another 4.6 million are severely food insecure. Endit