A surge in violence and airstrikes in South Sudan’s Jonglei State has forced tens of thousands to flee and severely disrupted humanitarian operations, the U.N. humanitarian office said Thursday.
Since Dec. 29, renewed fighting has displaced approximately 100,000 people across several counties, according to local authorities and humanitarian partners. The majority are women, children and older people.
Most are sheltering in remote areas fearing further attacks, while others have fled to neighboring states. Authorities in Lakes State reported registering more than 11,000 arrivals from Jonglei on Tuesday, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a media briefing.
In northern Jonglei, several aid organizations have relocated staff because of insecurity and evacuation orders. Organizations continuing to operate with local personnel report growing challenges, including difficulties restocking health facilities and sustaining other essential services.
The situation is worsened by reports that several aid groups have had facilities and assets looted or confiscated by parties to the conflict, Dujarric said.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it is continuing to engage with all sides to enable safe aid access for desperate populations.
Last year, conflict and floods displaced more than 715,000 people across South Sudan, according to UN figures.