UN requests greater humanitarian cooperation from S. Sudan parties to conflict
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March 22, 2014 (JUBA) - Senior UN officials have asked both the South
Sudan government and rebel forces for their full cooperation to help
save hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in conflict zones.
JPEG - 18.3 kb
UNOCHA director John Ging (R) speaks to the press as UNOCHA
coordinator in South Sudan Toby Lanzer looks on in Juba on 21 March
2014 (ST)
John Ging, the director for the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), led a visit by high level officials
from New York this week to Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states.
Addressing reporters in the capital, Juba, on Friday, the UN officials
called on both parties to the conflict to respect the work of
humanitarian agencies and allow speedy access to civilians.
"It is not acceptable to steal humanitarian assistance, to loot
humanitarian premises. We cannot raise money internationally for
humanitarian action if every time the humanitarian supplies are
stolen," said Ging.
The World Food Programme's (WFP) David Kaartud said at least 50 trucks
heading to Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, are still awaiting
clearance.
Kaatrud said numerous checkpoints have been set up on the roads,
causing delays in delivering relief supplies.
The government recently said it planned to check all UN vehicles in
the country following the seizure of a weapons cargo in a UN convoy
intercepted in Lakes state earlier this month en route to Unity state.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said the weapons were destined
for Ghanaian peace keepers, but were mistakenly transported by road
rather than air as is UN policy after a labelling error.
The incident seriously damaged the UN's credibility in South Sudan,
sparking protests, as well as demands for UNMISS head Hilde Johnson to
stand down amid allegations that the agency had been secretly
transporting the weapons to aid rebel fighters in the country.
A ceasefire deal signed between South Sudan's warring parties on 23
January has failed to halt conflict in the country, which erupted in
Juba in mid-December after political tensions turned violent.
The UN estimates that 4.9 million people across the country are in
need of humanitarian assistance.
The conflict has displaced almost one million people, including nearly
250,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries to escape the
violence.
(ST)
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