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UN urges unfettered humanitarian access in South Sudan

Xinhua, March 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

A senior UN official in South Sudan on Friday called on warring parties in the country to allow unhindered humanitarian access to its citizens who are in desperate need across the country.

The UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General for South Sudan, David Shearer said humanitarian agencies and the United Nations in South Sudan, who want to reach the people in need, are repeatedly refused access by local authorities.

"South Sudan's political leadership needs to support its own citizens, who are in desperate need across the country and cease hostilities," Shearer said in a statement issued in Juba.

He said a complete cessation of hostilities is urgently needed to end the suffering of the South Sudanese people.

"Those affected by the humanitarian crisis are still citizens of this young country, and they deserve protection. But the constant fighting shows they are getting none. Instead, they are bearing the brunt," Shearer said.

The UN official's call follows a series of recent events which have hampered humanitarian operations and placed civilians at risk.

The UN humanitarian agencies declared a famine situation affecting around 100,000 people in parts of the former Unity State on Feb. 20.

Yet since then, according to Shearer, humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations were told to evacuate the town of Mayendit in the heart of the famine-afflicted area because of the risk of fighting resuming.

"I have only just arrived as the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, yet I am alarmed at how little a response to the plight of these people has been heard from their leaders," Shearer said.

In other towns of Yuai and Motot in the eastern parts of the country, humanitarian organizations were forced to leave due to fighting between the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA in Opposition.

"Their compounds and supplies were subsequently looted," Shearer said.

UNHCR reported that 140,000 people had fled into neighboring countries, displaced by the ongoing conflict between January and February. Endit