Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Marie-Helene Verney, condemns killing of a humanitarian worker

(Juba, 10 November 2023) I condemn in strongest terms the latest attack targeting humanitarians on 6 November, when a South Sudanese national aid worker contracted by an international nongovernmental organization was killed. The attack took place as a team of aid workers were on a field trip to respond to a suspected measles outbreak in Greater Pibor Administrative Area. One of the team members left for a community visit and was brutally killed.

I convey my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of this colleague – a nutrition officer who was going the extra mile so that the children of Boma, Greater Pibor Administrative Area, live to see the age of five, and who was killed in the line of duty. This deplorable act of violence is unacceptable.

I am appalled by the continued violence targeting humanitarians and their assets. Access constraints, bureaucratic impediments, the impact of ongoing violence and widespread criminality hamper the work of humanitarian actors across the country. For several years running, South Sudan has remained the most dangerous place for aid workers.[i] This cannot continue.

In these difficult times when humanitarian access is increasingly challenging, humanitarian space and funding are shrinking, aid workers remain on the frontlines trying to provide life-saving support to the most vulnerable people in South Sudan, including children. Such heinous acts of violence against humanitarians hamper life-saving support to the most vulnerable, including women, children, elderly and disabled people.

I call upon the South Sudanese authorities at national, state and local levels to safeguard the lives of civilians and humanitarians. To armed actors and individuals, my message is clear: stop the violence and harassment of humanitarian actors or be prepared to see them leave. All forms of violence against civilians and humanitarians are unacceptable.

Note to editors

According to OCHA statistics, four aid workers were killed since the beginning of 2023 in South Sudan in the line of duty. In 2022, nine aid workers were killed while delivering life-saving assistance compared to five in 2021.
Since 2013, 142 humanitarians were killed in the line of duty. South Sudan remains the most dangerous place for aid workers for several years running according to Humanitarian Outcomes / Aid Worker Security Report – a ranking that holds for the number of attacks, victims and fatalities.

For further information, please contact:
Krasimira Antimova, Public Information Officer, antimova@un.org
Joseph Inganji, Head of Office, inganji@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org/south-sudan or www.reliefweb.int.

[i] 2023 Aid Worker Security Report: Aid Worker Security Report 2023 - Figures at a glance - World | ReliefWeb