There are increased looting incidents of food aid country-wide, with nearly 700 metric tons robbed in July alone, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

It says the food items, enough to feed thousands of people, were taken in six major looting incidents of warehouses and trucks in transit.

They occurred in the former Eastern Equatoria, Lakes, Upper Nile, and Warrap States.

In its latest humanitarian bulletin, looting incidents rose in July with 15 incidents reported across the country compared to seven and five in June and May respectively.

The report also shows that there have been “42 looting incidents of vital humanitarian warehouses, trucks in transit and assets in the country” since January.

“In Rumbek Centre County, three trucks carrying some 77 metric tons of food items, including cereals and cooking oil, were looted by residents of Mayom village on 9 July,” partly reads the report.

It called on the government to investigate and recover the commodities as well as punishing the culprits.

“Humanitarians have expressed concern to the government of the increased looting incidents in the country and asked for their support in the investigation and the recovery of food commodities as well as holding the perpetrators accountable,” it continues.

In response, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Gatwech Peter, says the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission is investigating the lootings.

But he says humanitarian agencies have been rejecting escort from security forces, making it difficult to control such incidents.

“The UN does not want the government to escort them. They then don’t need to blame us,” Mr Peter told Eye Radio on Friday.

Many international humanitarian organizations do not want armed escort due to neutrality reasons.

He also attributed to the hunger situation.

“There are individuals or civilians who are hungry – who want to grab the food.”

Early this week, the Deputy Governor of Tonj State, Manhim Bol, said over 30 people accused of looting food from WFP stores in the area were arrested and more than 300 bags of food recovered.