The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has condemned the killing of three of its workers on Sunday in Yei River State’s Morobo County.

IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission, Jean-Philippe Chauzy in a statement called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleagues and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends,” he said.

According to the statement, the three workers, two men, and a woman were caught in the crossfire when clashes begun in Morobo on Sunday morning in Isebi area of Morobo Country.

IOM further said two other male volunteers were injured in the clashes but the whereabouts of a female volunteer and a four-year-old son of the murdered female aid worker remain unknown. 

The victims were working in Ebola screening points in border areas between South Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, tracking the spread of the deadly disease.

“We grieve alongside our staff in South Sudan, for the families of the victims and reiterate that humanitarians and civilians are not and should never be subjected to such heinous acts of violence – we are not a target,” said IOM Director General António Vitorino. 

IOM has since suspended Ebola screening at five points of entry namely Isebi, Bazi, Kirikwa, Lasu, and Okaba until the safety of their personnel is guaranteed in Morobo.

The Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Alain Noudéhou, also strongly condemned the killings saying humanitarian workers risk their lives to assist people in need.

 According to UN OCHA, this is the first killing of aid workers reported in South Sudan since 2018. About 115 aid workers have been killed since the start of the conflict in December 2013.

Government and opposition National Salvation Front forces confirmed that they clashed on Sunday morning in Morobo.