Armed youth in South Sudan’s Jonglei state assaulted and threatened two humanitarian workers at gunpoint and forced the unloading of food aid from a river convoy, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday.
The incident occurred on Sept. 29 in Chuilbong, Ayod County, as the convoy was transporting food assistance to communities in government-controlled Mogok and Ayod South, according to WFP.
The agency said the armed youth blocked the convoy despite extensive negotiations with local authorities to secure safe passage. The incident occurred in the presence of local authorities, WFP said.
Unable to secure safe passage or assurances that its personnel would be protected, WFP ordered the convoy team to offload 162.54 metric tons of food commodities under duress, it said.
The food was intended to support about 4,400 vulnerable people in Mogok for three months, according to WFP.
The remaining convoy, including staff and assets belonging to WFP and its cooperating partner Action Against Hunger, as well as 291.48 metric tons of food destined for Ayod South, returned safely to Malakal on Oct. 2, WFP said.
WFP condemned the incident and called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the safe and unhindered movement of humanitarian workers and supplies.
“Aid workers are not, and must never be, a target,” WFP said.
South Sudan has faced years of conflict and instability, with armed violence and insecurity frequently disrupting humanitarian operations and restricting access to vulnerable communities.
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