Illegal checkpoints Unity State. (Photo: SSBC)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says 28 access-related incidents were reported in four states and two administrative areas including violence and threats to both personnel and assets in December 2024.

According to OCHA’s Humanitarian Access report of December 2024, the incidents include threats, robbery, burglary, banditry, and extortion targeting humanitarian staff in Central Equatoria, GPAA, Unity, Warrap, Jonglei and Abyei along critical supply routes.

It added that in Juba, two humanitarian workers were violently robbed at gunpoint.

While in Greater Pibor Administrative Area, armed criminals attacked two International None-Governmental Organization’s vehicles, stealing cash, phones, and other personal belongings.

In Unity State, criminals looted an INGO storage facility in Rotriak, stealing plastic sheets while a borehole drilling team was also attacked, leaving one injured with fuel and car batteries stolen.

OCHA furthers stresses that Bureaucratic impediments persisted, including the demand for additional registration of humanitarian service providers in Upper Nile, illegal checkpoints along Warrap-Bentiu supply routes and interference in staff recruitment in Unity State.

“ These barriers disrupted logistics, delayed response and hampered efforts to combat an escalating cholera outbreak in Bentiu.

“These obstacles impact service delivery to hundreds of thousands of people and underscore the importance of ensuring unhindered humanitarian access to effectively protect and assist vulnerable populations”, partially reads the statement.

Some states have reportedly dismantled illegal roadblocks but others are yet to implement the directive of the Commander-in-Chief.

CDF’s decision was followed a week-long protest in December, 2024 by the long distance truck drivers over illegal checkpoints along Juba-Nimule highway where soldiers providing security along the lifeline extorted money from them.