Pibor youth threatened to assault humanitarian workers; South Sudan gov’t implored to protect them.

South Sudan’s Interim Humanitarian Coordinator has asked the government to safeguard humanitarian workers in the nation.

The comments came a day after it was reported that a youth organization in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area offered non-locals 72 hours to leave employment for them.

According to the young organization, humanitarian workers from other areas of the nation are taking jobs that belong to the local population.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Matthew Hollingworth stated, “I am apprehensive about the recent threat by youth organizations against humanitarians helping the South Sudanese population.”

“These risks will affect the delivery of essential services to people, such as emergency food aid, health and nutrition services, and protection support, among other things.”

Similar incidents have recently occurred in other areas of the nation.

In July 2021, the administration of Eastern Equatoria State declared a night curfew in Torit, the state capital, to prevent assaults on humanitarian workers from other parts of the nation.

Nearly ten NGOs had relocated their employees from Maban, Upper Nile State, three years before when a mob of teenagers assaulted their facilities over employment issues.

According to UNOCHA, this new event will affect response activities for almost 100,000 of the most vulnerable individuals in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

“We cannot reach people with vital assistance without these frontline workers, all of whom are South Sudanese nationals, and people’s humanitarian needs will worsen,” Hollingworth said.