An aid worker with a local organization in the Khorfulus area of Jonglei’s Pigi County was killed in an ambush in the county’s Alelo area on Thursday last week, authorities have reported. This comes despite numerous calls by humanitarian organizations condemning the increased attacks on humanitarian workers.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, James Biliu Kur, the acting county commissioner, said the deceased identified as Both Nin was attacked and killed while returning to his workplace from Fangak County.
“The deceased worked for a local organization in Khorwac Payam of my county until his death. Earlier, he left for Fangak to exchange his dollars into pounds. But, as he was returning to his workplace, he was killed in an area called Alelo between New Pangak (Palm el Zahraf) of Fangak County and Khorwac Payam of my county,” Bilu explained.
He added, “The attack was carried out by armed criminals. So, no one was arrested here in Khorfulus.”
The local official condemned the attack, saying they will work with their counterparts in Fangak to ensure that attackers are arrested.
Meanwhile, Muonyngok Abiel, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) coordinator in the county, confirmed the killing and condemned the attack.
He urged Fangak and Khorfulus authorities to bring the culprits to book.
On 29, October armed men reportedly attacked a team of Plan International’s humanitarian workers near Pibor, killing an aid worker. A day later, a staffer for Nile Hope, a South Sudanese non-governmental organization, in Jonglei state was killed by armed youth.
The international community recently condemned the killings of aid workers in the country and urged the government to provide security to the thousands of aid workers who put their lives at risk to serve the communities.