The Red Cross announced yesterday that it has withdrawn all its staff from a humanitarian compound in Leer County, Unity State after it was looted and its aid workers threatened.
Dozens of “well-organized armed men” entered the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) compound over the weekend and stole equipment, medical supplies, two vehicles and money, according to the press release.
“The incident happened amidst intense fighting between armed groups,” the statement explains. ICRC did not identify the responsible group. The incident happened during clashes in the area between SPLA-Juba and SPLA-IO. The latter yesterday claimed to have briefly captured Leer on Sunday and then withdrawn the same day.
ICRC noted that it had only recently made a permanent return to the base in September after evacuating its former base in Leer in May 2015.
“A distribution of food was planned for October but the renewed clashes have prevented the ICRC from carrying out its activities. The ICRC will not resume operations in Leer County until security conditions improve and assurances are given from all relevant parties,” the Red Cross announced.
Photo: A looted Red Cross base in Leer, May 2015 (ICRC / Pawel Krzysiek)