Red Cross suspends mission in Torit over staff assault


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Red Cross suspends mission in Torit over staff assault

The South Sudan Red Cross has temporarily put on hold its activities in the Torit Branch in Eastern Equatoria State, citing harassment of staff.

Red Cross said in a press release seen by City Review that six of its staff members were assaulted by a group of youth who forcing it to close the office in Torit.

The Secretary-General of South Sudan Red Cross, John Lobor, has consequently called on the community leaders and authorities to ensure the safety of the volunteer workers. He said the workers are toiling to improve nutrition, access to health care, water and sanitation as well as preventing sexual and gender-based violence in the society.

“We have temporarily suspended our humanitarian activities in Torit and we are ready to engage in a dialogue with the community on their concerns,’’ the statement reads in part.

Lobor said the attack that happened to the workers in Torit took place on the May 31, around 12 noon and was perpetrated by a group of armed youth that stormed the office.

The decision comes barely a week after International Rescue Committee (IRC) suspended operations in Ganyiel Payam, Unity State, after the death of Dr Louis Edward Saleh on May 21. IRC sanctioned the decision in protest against the medic’s death, which has so far remained mysterious but largely blamed on attackers said to have stormed the organization’s compound before assaulting Dr Saleh.

“We are deeply disturbed by these attacks and extremely saddened by the loss of our esteemed colleague. Following the horrific and tragic death of Dr Louis, IRC has suspended all its humanitarian operations in Ganyliel Payam with immediate effect because we are very concerned about the safety and well-being of our staff working on projects in the area. Internal assessments, consultations and reviews of the safety and well-being of the staff are currently on-going,’’ said the IRC South Sudan Country Director Caroline Sekyewa.

She added: “Attacks on humanitarian staff constitute a severe breach of International Humanitarian Law. We urge the local authorities to provide a guarantee of staff security so that we can continue to provide life-saving humanitarian services to host and displaced communities in South Sudan”.

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