Military sources have confirmed that General Paul Malong is responsible for orders closing the Nile to humanitarian traffic, indicating that the measure is part of a broader effort to deny people in rebel-held areas access to food.

General Malong is the SPLA chief of staff and the highest military officer in the country next to General Salva Kiir. He is also the chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Northern Bahr al Ghazal State and the former state governor.

According to sources within SPLA headquarters, Malong has instructed all field commanders to block humanitarian organizations from using river transport to bring relief assistance to displaced people in rebel-held areas. Military sources say new aid restrictions also aim at preventing relief planes based in Juba from flying into rebel-held areas.

The ban imposed by the authorities also applies to humanitarian vehicles on the ground used by aid workers to deliver supplies and monitor the population's humanitarian needs. One source within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) at its branch office in Bentiu said today that a UNMISS patrol was turned back at a checkpoint in Rubkona on Friday, after attempting to go for verification of reports of restrictions on organizations in the area.

Multiple sources meanwhile reported that government barges left Bor several days ago heading north along the Nile in the direction of Tayar and Leer. The barges were carrying military supplies.

Separately, a source at an international organization expressed outrage at the latest violence, saying that government forces have plans to “clean out” southern Unity State. He cited the example of Mayendit County where SPLA and allied militia were “on the rampage.”

Radio Tamazuj reported on Thursday that SPLA and allied militia forces attacked Dablual village in Mayendit County following a food distribution, stole food, and caused thousands to flee to the bush.

Related: 

South Sudan govt shuts down Nile food barges as civilian hunger increases