S. Sudan frees UN aid worker

South Sudanese government has released a UN aid worker after detaining him for more than three weeks, the U.S ambassador to the United Nations said.

Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to UN said Peter Alex, a World Food Program (WFP) Aid worker who had been detained by the South Sudan government since April 10, has finally been released and reunited with his family.

"Unfortunately, this is not a unique incident in South Sudan, the most dangerous country in the world today for aid workers," Haley said in a statement issued on Thursday night.

He said the warring parties in South Sudan must stop the ongoing violence, including the government's recent military offensives, and allow humanitarian organizations to do their jobs to address the humanitarian crisis that the actions of the warring parties have created for their own people.

"The Government of South Sudan must stop obstructing humanitarian assistance and ensure the safety and security of all humanitarian aid workers in the country," Haley added.

Alex, a South Sudanese, is a spokeswoman for the WFP based in Nairobi. The detention came as humanitarian needs continue to rise, while the operating environment is becoming increasingly dangerous and difficult. Endit