August 18, 2024 (JUBA) – 24 aid workers have been attacked in South Sudan this year, making the country one of the most dangerous places for humanitarian workers, the UN said. Access constraints across the country, the UN humanitarian agency (UNOCHA) said, hamper efforts to deliver urgent, life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable populations. “Between January and July, 267 humanitarian access incidents were reported, with 135 incidents involving direct violence against humanitarian personnel and assets, including 28 incidents of looting and theft,” partly noted a statement from the agency. Escalating insecurity has forced 15 humanitarian staff to relocate from their operational areas, it added. “On World Humanitarian Day, we honour the bravery and sacrifice of humanitarian workers who have lost their lives in the line of duty,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan. “Their unwavering commitment to alleviating suffering and delivering assistance to those in need cannot be overstated,,” she added. The UN also warned about the  humanitarian and economic outlook in a country facing the effect of conflict in neighbouring Sudan 780,000 refugees and internally displaced people; uncertainty in the face of critical In 2024, 9 million people or about three-quarters of South Sudan’s population …

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