JUBA, June 30 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Friday urged humanitarian agencies to closely cooperate with security officials in war zones to avert more aid workers killings that have threatened aid delivery to those in need amid ongoing fighting.
President Salva Kiir's spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told Xinhua in Juba that aid workers should first seek government security guards when visiting areas experiencing fighting between South Sudan army (SPLA) and rebels.
"The aid workers are advised first to seek government escorts when going to hostile areas," Ateny revealed.
This would help reduce aid workers' death such as the April killing of 6 aid workers along the Juba-Pibor road East of the war-torn country, he added.
The UN often complains of humanitarian hindrances from the warring parties putting to risk over 7 million people on the brink of starvation.
Since the outbreak of conflict in December 2013, the UN says 82 aid workers have been killed amid looting and theft of humanitarian aid.
Aid workers have in the past also been abducted by armed groups and released after negotiations.
"Government is a partner to all humanitarian agencies. We have given unlimited access to local and international NGOs to those in need," Ateny said. "Some humanitarian workers may come under attack and we are blamed," he added.
South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Machar led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.
The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing the rebel leader Machar to flee into exile.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2 million from their homes, and forced more than 1.5 million to flee into neighbouring countries. Enditem
