Armed gangs in South Sudan’s eastern Jonglei state on Thursday they set fire to and looted a branch of the British charity Save the Children and destroyed its medical center. This was reported by the representatives of the organization, writes TASR according to the report of the AFP agency.
- Armed gangs attacked charity and health facilities in eastern Jonglei.
- The attacks cut off hundreds of families from basic health services.
- No employees of the organization were injured in the attack on Save the Children.
- Doctors Without Borders and the World Food Program have suspended their operations in the region.
- South Sudan is facing increased violence, displacement and a humanitarian crisis.
In recent weeks, there has been an increase in violence between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival Riek Machar – particularly in Jonglei state, where according to the UN report on Tuesday, at least 280,000 people had to leave their homes.
Save the Children said that the attack on the primary health care center in the town of Walgak cut off hundreds of families from basic services. She confirmed that none of her employees were injured in the incident. However, she added that suspends activity in this area.
“When humanitarian facilities are attacked, civilians, especially children, suffer the consequences. Such behavior is unacceptable and must stop.” the organization’s director in South Sudan, Chris Nyamandi, said in a statement about the attack.
The humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) also announced on Wednesday that its hospital in Lankien was hit by an airstrike on Tuesday, destroying its main warehouse, causing the loss of important supplies and slightly injuring some workers. On the same day, another of its health facilities in the Pieri area, also located in Jonglei, was looted by unknown assailants, according to the NGO.
World Food Program also on Wednesday suspended its operations in the northern part of South Sudan after militants attacked and looted its convoy, which carried up to 1,500 tons of humanitarian aid.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011. Shortly thereafter, it was plagued by civil war for five years, which caused the displacement of more than two million people. In addition, South Sudan is home to hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighboring war-torn Sudan. The country is plagued by poverty and massive corruption, writes AFP.
