The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has condemned the killing of two of its contracted truck drivers and the injury of another over the weekend while they were returning to Juba after delivering crucial aid supplies to Yei River County in Central Equatoria State.
This incident happened on Saturday morning in Lainya County around the Loka West area.
James Maiden, UNICEF’s chief of communication in South Sudan, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that two contracted drivers were shot and killed and another injured and that two trucks were set ablaze.
“Two trucks were attacked on Saturday morning while returning to Juba after delivering crucial aid supplies for children and their families to Yei. Unfortunately, two contracted drivers were shot and killed and another one was injured, and trucks which were empty and returning to Juba were burnt and destroyed,” he said. “UNICEF strongly condemns the incident. Due to the attack, UNICEF has paused the movement of supplies to the area and is urging the government to step up security on the roads and bring those responsible to justice.”
“UNICEF is working closely with the humanitarian community and authorities to ensure distribution of life-saving medical, nutrition, WASH, and education supplies can continue, with the safety of the dedicated contractors who deliver them secured,” Maiden added.
He said attacks on humanitarian workers threaten the safe delivery of aid across the country and must stop.
“The safety and security of staff and contractors is of the utmost importance. When attacks like this occur, it is unfortunately children and women, in desperate need of assistance who suffer the most,” he said. “Our deepest condolences and sympathies are with the families of the drivers, who so frequently are in the firing line of these needless attacks.
“Incidents like this threaten the safe delivery of aid across the country by all humanitarian actors and must stop,” Maiden concluded.
Since the start of the year, there have been 40 attacks on aid workers in South Sudan leaving 22 aid workers dead and 36 injured, according to the 2023 Aid Worker Security Report released in August 2023.