The U.S government has condemned the recent reports of the alleged targeted and deliberate killing of six humanitarian aid workers in Maban Count, Upper Nile State.

The aid workers representing various NGOs were killed on Sunday and Monday by a group which calls itself ‘Maban Defense Forces’.

It urged all the parties to the conflict to immediately to stop the intimidation of humanitarian workers and the deliberate and ethnically-based targeting of civilians.

A statement by Secretary of State, John Kerry, says the people of South Sudan are paying what he calls horrific price for the failure of their leaders to resolve the on-going conflict.

He urged the parties to the conflict to immediately refrain from intimidation of humanitarian workers and the deliberate and ethnically-based targeting of civilians.

“The killing of innocent humanitarian workers who risked their lives to provide desperately needed aid at time when 3.9 million South Sudanese are facing emergency food insecurity from a man-made crisis is simply appalling,” said Secretary Kerry in the statement.

“The Government of South Sudan has a responsibility to protect humanitarian workers, and ensure its forces comply with repeated government commitments to facilitate humanitarian assistance.”

Mr. Kerry said due to the worsening security and humanitarian situation, it is urgent that both parties come to the table at the IGAD- mediated talks in Addis Ababa to engage in political negotiations.

He said the talks are critical to resolving the conflict and moving forward on the commitment to form a transitional government of national unity.

The Secretary of State, John Kerry, urged both parties, the Government of South Sudan and the SPLM-SPLA in Opposition to respect what they agreed to on the 10th of June.