UNOCHA reports increased humanitarian access incidents in South Sudan

By Richard Sultan

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in South Sudan has reported an increase in the number of incidents in regards to humanitarian access. In its third quarter of 2021 report seen today by the Juba Echo, 174 humanitarian access incidents were reported, 56 per cent of which were violent and threats against humanitarian personnel and assets.

“Over a quarter of the incidents reported occurred in Central
Equatoria. Twenty-nine NGO staff were detained for various reasons, including new visa requirements and outstanding court procedures against former staff”, reads part of the report.

The reported added that insecurity forced the relocation of 80 aid workers from Ayod and New Fangak counties in Jonglei State, Nagero and Tambura in Western Equatoria State, and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

On the issue of looting of supplies, it said on the  8 of July, 230 metric tons of assorted critical food items for people in highly food-insecure areas were looted from a UN warehouse in Tonj North, Warrap State.

“On 15 July, 70 metric tons of food commodities were looted in a roadside attack in Abienhom, Unity. On 21 August, 12.5 metric tons of food supplies were looted in Baggari, Western Bahr el Ghazal.
Youth disrupted humanitarian action in Torit, Renk, Koch, Ulang, Kapoeta and Bentiu in 30 reported incidents”, continues the report.

Report Summary

Incidents reported-174

Incidents involving violence-56%

Staffs detained-29

Aid workers relocated-80

Operational interference-23

Bureaucratic impediments-25

This increasing trend of youth demands, aggression, and at times violence has significant impact on humanitarian space
and the ability to operate in an unimpeded manner, according to parts of the report.

Attempts to reach the state governors were this incidents took place for comments were futile by press time.