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South Sudan Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 11 | 15 July 2017

Countries
South Sudan
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Sources
OCHA
Publication date

HIGHLIGHTS

• Thousands of civilians have been displaced in Longochuk and Maiwut counties, following fighting.

• One hundred humanitarian access incidents were reported in South Sudan in June, the highest number recorded in any month so far in 2017.

• Deaths caused by malaria represent 76.9 per cent of all disease-related deaths recorded so far in 2017.

• Humanitarians are striving to improve the situation of nearly 60,000 internally displaced persons who are living in the protected area and other collective sites in Wau, in extrem

Upper Nile: Insecurity forces relocation of aid workers, cuts services

Thousands of civilians have been displaced in Longochuk and Maiwut counties, following an offensive by government forces which began around 2 July in Mathiang. Most of the displaced people have fled to Malual, Udier, Chotbora and Pamach in Longochuk County, and Pagak, Jekow and Joko in Maiwut County. An estimated 5,000 people have crossed the border to Ethiopia in the past week in search of safety.

Due to escalating tensions, at least 25 aid workers from different humanitarian organizations were relocated from Pagak and surrounding areas on 6 and 7 July. UNICEF has reported that three South Sudanese who were working for a firm it contracted to conduct education surveys fled Mathiang along with aid workers and were held in Pagak upon arrival. UNICEF is working to establish the exact location of the contractors, their state of health and to secure their release. There are also separate reports of looting of humanitarian compounds and assets in Mathiang and Maiwut towns.

Aid workers say thousands of civilians have been cut off from assistance in key locations, including Mathiang, Maiwut and Pagak, as a result of the escalating insecurity and relocation of humanitarians.

Partners are deeply concerned regarding the plight of civilians in areas affected by the clashes and call on all parties to uphold their responsibilities under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians, and to provide free, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian organizations to return to these areas as soon as possible.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.