South Sudan’s Humanitarian Affairs minister Hussein Mar Nyuot has called on security forces to remove all illegal roadblocks and checkpoints across the country to allow safe passage of humanitarian convoys.
The minister was speaking during the launch of the Humanitarian Response Plan for relief organizations in Juba on Thursday. He said illegal roadblocks and checkpoints is one of the challenges facing humanitarian operations in the country.
“If you travel from here, the humanitarian convoys, to Wau to Bentiu, over 80 checkpoints. These are illegal and these people they charge money. Taking money from the humanitarians, it actually infringes into the budget of the humanitarians, it is intimidating the contractors who are doing the deliveries and it is slowing down the humanitarian aid to reach the people,” he added.
Mar said the September peace deal has reduced tensions and enhanced relations between government and opposition forces, and this should be replicated across the country.
“Now there is peace, we don’t need the checkpoints. There is no more fear,” said Mar.
Mar pointed out that the directive is a government policy announced by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, stressing that it must be respected.