JUBA — At least five humanitarian workers have been killed and several others injured after an aid convoy was attacked in eastern South Sudan, in an incident condemned by the United Nations as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The attack took place in Jonglei State, a region long affected by inter-communal violence and armed group activity. According to initial reports from UN humanitarian officials, the convoy was travelling through Duk County when it was ambushed by unidentified armed attackers.
The vehicles were clearly marked as humanitarian, and the staff were delivering assistance to communities affected by flooding, displacement, and ongoing insecurity. Despite these protections, armed men opened fire on the convoy, killing five aid workers instantly and injuring others who were later evacuated to nearby medical facilities.
The United Nations expressed deep shock and strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a direct assault on humanitarian operations in one of the world’s most fragile crisis zones. UN officials stressed that targeting humanitarian personnel violates international law and undermines life-saving assistance for civilians who depend on aid for food, shelter, and medical support. The UN also called for a full and independent investigation to identify those responsible and ensure accountability.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that violence against aid workers in South Sudan is increasing, making access to many areas extremely dangerous. Armed clashes between local militias, road ambushes, criminal attacks, weak security infrastructure, and inter-communal tensions continue to restrict humanitarian operations, particularly in Jonglei and Upper Nile regions.
Aid organizations say this growing insecurity is severely limiting the delivery of assistance to vulnerable communities. There are increasing fears that repeated attacks could force humanitarian agencies to suspend or reduce operations in high-risk areas, leaving thousands of civilians without essential support.
South Sudan has faced persistent instability since independence in 2011, and Jonglei State remains one of the most volatile regions due to recurring violence, cattle raids, militia activity, and displacement crises.
