Rebels said on Monday the South Sudanese government should be held responsible for the withdrawal of aid workers from Mayendit area in Unity State.

Last week, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said humanitarian workers were forced to temporarily suspend operations due to insecurity in Mayendit area, where people are facing starvation.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Weirial Pouk Baluang, the press secretary of the rebel-appointed governor of Liech (Unity) State, accused the government of targeting aid workers in Mayendit.

He pointed out that there are no aid agencies operating in their areas of control in Unity State, while accusing government troops of looting humanitarian supplies in Mayendit.

For his part, the government of Southern Liech State claimed that the security situation returned to normal, while calling upon the aid workers to return back to Mayendit.

Peter Makuoth Malual, the Minister of Information Minister in Southern Liech State, said aid workers decided to pull out of Mayendit after clashes among herders.

He reiterated his government’s commitment to provide full protection to all humanitarian workers in their areas of control. He further said they will not be responsible for any aid workers in the rebel-controlled areas.

Photo: A food distribution in Ganyiel, Unity State (VOA)