Armed men in uniform carried out attacks on humanitarian aid workers in the Maban area of Northern Upper Nile on Sunday, the UN humanitarian agency said.

Alain Noudéhou, the UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, said in statement on Monday that several armed men in uniform broke into the Relief International (RI) compound located in the town of Bunj, and assaulted five members of staff and robbed others of their cash and personal valuables.

He pointed out that the assaulted staff members have since been treated in hospital and are currently receiving counselling.

Alain Noudéhou said, “Violence against humanitarian workers is categorically unacceptable and must stop. I strongly condemn these heinous attacks and insist these perpetrators be brought swiftly to justice”.

He added, “We are doing everything we can to ensure the members of the Relief International team receive the assistance and support they need at this difficult time”.

The humanitarian coordinator has strongly condemned brutal attacks on humanitarian aid workers in the Maban area, insisting the perpetrators be brought to justice immediately.

This incident follows the killing of three IOM volunteers in Central Equatoria in late October.

Although fighting has subsided across South Sudan, the UN found that attacks and harassment of aid workers have continued, including ambushes, detentions, abductions, and restrictions on access, especially in the Equatoria region.