The United Nations today disclosed that aid workers in government-controlled Bentiu town in South Sudan were “prevented” from leaving the UN camp where they are based in order to work in the town and surrounding areas.
News of this comes after SPLM-IO rebels accused the government of launching offensives in different parts of Unity State – a claim corroborated in part by a state official who admitted to Radio Tamazuj that the government captured the Nhialdiu area, which was previously rebel-held.
Toby Lanzer, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, said in a press statement today: “Over the past days, aid workers based in Bentiu, Unity state, have been prevented from leaving the United Nations base to carry out their work in Bentiu town as well as in surrounding neighborhoods and villages.”
He added, “This interrupts life-saving assistance, including medical support in the hospital, to people struck by the conflict.” Lanzer called on the warring parties to respect freedom of movement of the aid agencies.