The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that both parties to the conflict in South Sudan have caused “access incidents” that hamper the effective flow of relief aid to affected parts of the country.
“During the month of September humanitarian access continued to be hampered by violence against aid workers, active hostilities and interference in implementation,” the UN agency explained.
A map published by OCHA, available for download below, shows that the majority of access incidents occurred in Central Equatoria, Unity and Lakes States.
The total number of reported access incidents increased to 74 reported cases in September (compared to 58 in August). This includes 5 incidents of physical assault, 7 cases of arrest or detention, 6 ambushes or hijackings, 15 cases of suspension of activities, and 2 cases of withdrawal of personnel.
The most prevalent incidents remained violence against personnel or assets with several incidents of assault, harassment and ambush or hijackings in especially Central Equatoria, and arrest or detention and threats in Unity and Jonglei.
Increased insecurity in Lakes led to suspension of activities in large parts of the state for several weeks, and active hostilities in Upper Nile continued to impede humanitarian operations there.