Tens of thousands of people under the protection of the United Nations in Bentiu are affected by the suspension of aid flights after a UN-contracted helicopter crashed near the town earlier this week, suspected of having been shot down.
A spokesman of the UN Secretary-General in New York yesterday announced the suspension of all flights to Bentiu in Unity State, following the crash of the UN cargo helicopter earlier this week, in which three Russian crew members were killed.
“This suspension will impact the provision of lifesaving assistance to more than 46,600 people who are seeking safety in UN peacekeeping bases in Bentiu,” he said.
Toby Lanzer, the UN aid chief in South Sudan, told reporters in Juba yesterday that the helicopter crash had a direct impact on UNMISS and humanitarian work.
He pointed out that Bentiu is located on a flood plain, and the people living under UN protection in Bentiu are only there because they feel unsafe elsewhere. The conditions in the UN protection site are poor because of flooding.
Wendy Taeuber, who heads International Rescue Committee (IRC) in South Sudan, told AFP, “If this type of threat continues, our services will grind to a halt in Bentiu.”
“Helicopter is the only way in and out for both staff and supplies.”