JUBA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday urged the South Sudanese government and key parties to the peace accord to fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law to safeguard aid workers, civilians, and relief supplies.
In a statement marking World Humanitarian Day, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan Ramanathan Balakrishnan urged all parties to investigate attacks on aid workers, hold perpetrators accountable, and guarantee safe and unhindered access to those in need.
"The courage of humanitarian workers must be matched by a collective commitment to protect them. Their safety is essential to ensuring that life-saving assistance reaches the millions of people across South Sudan who depend on it," Balakrishnan said.
According to the UN official, at least 36 humanitarian workers and contractors have been killed in the line of duty in South Sudan since January, already surpassing the 31 deaths recorded throughout 2025.
"These are not just statistics. Behind each loss was a parent, a son or daughter, a colleague, a friend, and a member of a community. Every killing must be investigated, and those responsible held accountable," Balakrishnan said.
The UN official said the wider security environment is equally alarming, noting that violent incidents targeting aid workers and assets exceeded 450 between January and July, more than double the number recorded during the same period in 2025.
He said the escalating conflict has forced aid organizations to relocate from key areas, further limiting access to vulnerable populations, while the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is just 35 percent funded, threatening to disrupt critical food supplies from October without urgent funding.
With mounting threats and funding shortages, aid organizations reached 2.6 million of their 4.3 million targeted beneficiaries between January and June, Balakrishnan said.
According to the UN official, about 10 million South Sudanese require humanitarian aid in 2026, with more than 7.5 million facing acute food insecurity due to conflict, hunger, disease, and climate shocks. ■