UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien disclosed today that he asked President Salva Kiir to open the Nile to traffic of barges carrying relief supplies in order to reach affected communities.

Speaking on Saturday at a news conference at UN OCHA in Juba, O’Brien said, “I met the president of South Sudan Mr Salva Kiir to discuss the humanitarian crisis, I shared with him our collective great sadness and disappointment...”

“I urged His Excellency to help in ensure the restriction on barges transporting vital lifesaving supplies on River Nile be lifted without delay,” O’Brien said.

“I call on all parties to uphold their obligations to comply with the principles of international humanitarian law and ensure the safe passage of humanitarian assistance. We need unhindered access to provide assistance to conflict affected communities by the most efficient means possible be that air, road or river,” he added.

Related:

Humanitarians demand access in Upper Nile as children face starvation (23 July)

South Sudan govt shuts down Nile food barges as civilian hunger increases (21 July)