The U.S. Embassy in Juba in a statement has condemned the recent killing of two humanitarian aid workers in South Sudan.
James Aken Majak, an employee of World Vision based in Warrap State’s Tonj North County, was shot and killed in a road ambush over the weekend. Warrap State Information Minister, William Wol Mayom attributed the murder to a revenge killing.
On November 6, another aid worker, a nutrition officer who was not named, was killed in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
“The U.S. Embassy joins the UN Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in strongly condemning the brutal killing of a South Sudanese aid worker in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area on November 6,” the statement read. “We also strongly condemn the November 11 attack in Warrap State in which a humanitarian worker was killed. It is the responsibility of South Sudan’s transitional government to establish conditions that ensure the safe provision of humanitarian assistance. We offer our condolences to the families of both victims.”
Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Marie-Helene Verney condemned the incident and said the latest attack occurred on 6 November, when a South Sudanese national aid worker contracted by an international non-governmental organization was killed.
“I condemn in strongest terms the latest attack targeting humanitarians on 6 November, when a South Sudanese national aid worker contracted by an international nongovernmental organization was killed,” Verney said at the time. “The attack occurred as a team of aid workers were on a field trip to respond to a suspected measles outbreak in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. One of the team members left for a community visit and was brutally killed.”
She said she is appalled by the continued violence targeting humanitarians and their assets which hamper the work of humanitarian actors across the country.
“For several years running, South Sudan has remained the most dangerous place for aid workers,” Verney stated. “This cannot continue.”
According to OCHA statistics, four aid workers were killed since the beginning of 2023 in South Sudan in the line of duty. In 2022, nine aid workers were killed while delivering life-saving assistance compared to five in 2021. Since 2013, 142 humanitarians have been killed in the line of duty. South Sudan has remained the most dangerous place for aid workers for several years according to Humanitarian Outcomes Aid/Worker Security Report – a ranking that holds for the number of attacks, victims, and fatalities.
