Ambassador Alexander Laskaris, the Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), visited Juba yesterday to learn more about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

U.S. Embassy said in a statement yesterday that Alexander visited a World Food Program warehouse and met with United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) leaders and humanitarian agencies. He was accompanied by the Charge d’Affaires at the US Mission to the UN agencies in Rome, Thomas Duffy.

According to the statement, UNMISS and the humanitarian agencies briefed him on the life-threatening conditions facing the four million displaced persons and six million people – half the population – who are food insecure.

They also shared information about the dangerous operating environment and continuing access challenges that make the work of humanitarian actors trying to deliver life-saving assistance more difficult.

Ambassador Laskaris said, “The United States continues to support the people of South Sudan in the midst of this devastating, man-made crisis”.

“However, we need to see real commitment and actions on the part of all the leaders of South Sudan to end the violence and bring peace and stability to the country.” He said.

He urged the Government of South Sudan to ensure the protection of humanitarian workers doing life-saving work.