Dangerous security context for humanitarian workers

South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for humanitarians. They are 132 to have lost their life in mission since the independence of the country in 2011. The State of Jongleï is particularly dangerous, with already 4 attacks of humanitarian convoys reported since the beginning of the year.

The latest attack on a UN convoy carrying food aid that left three dead and one injured last Thursday in Jonglei state comes as the country is home to nearly 8.3 million people this year needing support from the World Food Program to survive.

The 44-truck convoy was ambushed between Gadiang and Yuai villages in Jonglei state. The looters have executed three of the employees of the private company chartered by the World Food Program and stole the equivalent of 3.2 million dollars worth of food.

No need to wait for the results of some investigation to understand that extreme poverty is the cause of this violence.

Arafat Jamal, Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan think that if the problem can be linked to the violence that continues in this state, in villages without fields and without livestock either, 44 trucks is a fairly visible target and just as easy to attack for people who have no food.