The World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday condemned the killing of three workers contracted as porters by its office in Wau town during the latest upsurge in fighting.
The aid agency said in a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj that it learned of the death of three men, all South Sudanese nationals, on Thursday from the company that hired them, which is contracted by WFP to provide loading and unloading services at the Wau warehouse.
"We are outraged and heartbroken by the deaths of our colleagues, who worked every day to help provide life-saving food to millions of their fellow countrymen," WFP Country Director Joyce Luma said.
WFP further said the three men appeared to have been killed on Monday as they tried to make their way to a WFP warehouse. It pointed out that two died of machete wounds and the third was shot dead.
Last month, unknown gunmen killed six aid workers along the Juba-Pibor road.