Gunmen ambush UN convoy in Jonglei
Unidentified armed gunmen have ambushed and shot a peacekeeper working with the United Nations when they attacked a convoy carrying World Food Programme food and nutrition assistance some 30 kilometers from Gadiang and 160 kilometers from Bor town in Jonglei State.
According to a statement issued by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the convoy was going to various locations to preposition much needed assistance for 95,000 people ahead of the rainy season when access becomes heavily restricted.
Meshach Malo, acting Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim for South Sudan, said the incident derails humanitarian agencies’ ability to deliver lifesaving assistance to people in need during the limited window of opportunity available to reach them.
“Continuous attacks on humanitarians and the attempted looting of vital relief which millions of vulnerable people depend on to survive are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” said Mr. Meshach Malo.
“At a time of major funding constraints, the loss of aid due to theft, looting, or destruction means that every bag of food, nutrition, or other humanitarian supplies looted is stolen directly from the South Sudanese families most in need,” added Mr. Malo.
UNMISS and WFP condemned the incident and called on the government to carry out an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice, urging the community to respect humanitarian operations and UN peacekeepers who are working to promote peace and stability in South Sudan.
It stated that the peacekeeper is now in stable condition after suffering from the gunshot wounds.
According to OCHA, the number of attacks against humanitarian convoys and assets has been on the rise across South Sudan, reaching 591 in 2021. Active hostilities, sub-national violence, and violence against humanitarian operations have led humanitarian organizations to seek force protection from UNMISS during the delivery of assistance.
The police commissioner in Jonglei State said they lack mobility to carry out their duties effectively along the roads connecting the state capital and villages.
According to the police commissioner, Maj. Gen. Joseph Mayen Akoon, who confirmed to The City Review the incident on Tuesday, there are a lot of incidences happening along the road between Mathiang and Gadiang that need police presence to crackdown on armed criminals laying attacks on the road.
He said he got information but not complete and that the police are looking for more information about the incident and would trace the suspects.
“Now we are trying to organize ourselves as police to have mobility between Gadiang and Mathiang, but we have not reached that level yet and we are hoping after some days we will get some cars.”
“We have a problem with mobility, but we hope we are going to get some cars very soon. We are going to work on that road,” Mayen told The City Review in an interview yesterday.
