The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is worried about the rise in incidents hampering aid operations.

According to Stephane Dujarric who was giving a briefing in New York on Friday, OCHA reported more than 40 incidents affecting humanitarian access in South Sudan last month.

“Fifteen of those involved violence against humanitarian staff and impacted humanitarian assets,” he reported. “Other challenges include bureaucratic impediments and movement restrictions. These incidents were most prevalent in Upper Nile, Unity, and Jonglei– with five of the six attacks on humanitarian convoys in March reported in Jonglei.” 

He added that people fleeing neighboring Sudan continue to cross the border into South Sudan.  

“Since the start of Sudan’s conflict almost a year ago, more than 636,000 men, women, and children have arrived in South Sudan – putting further strain on an already challenging humanitarian response in South Sudan,” Dujarric noted. “This year’s $1.8 billion humanitarian appeal for South Sudan is just over 19 percent funded-which translates to $345 million.”

Relatedly, the spokesperson said that in response to seasonal intercommunal violence driven by cattle raids and competition over the scarce resources in Eastern Equatoria's Torit, Budi, and Ikotos counties, our peacekeeping mission there (UNMISS) reports that peacekeepers facilitated a peace dialogue among feuding communities in the Kidepo Valley area. 

“Key outcomes of the dialogue included agreements to hold perpetrators to account and introduce animal movement permits to prevent violence,” he stated. “These agreements are expected to reduce cattle rustling and revenge attacks, allowing for peaceful coexistence and the preservation of livelihoods.”

According to Dujarric, the already unstable situation in the area has worsened in recent months with frequent road ambushes.