A truck attacked in road ambush in South Sudan veered off the road/Courtesy photo.

The head of UNMISS has expressed concern that the current economic stresses may lead to increased criminality and predatory attacks on humanitarian workers in the country.

Nicolas Haysom also cited fears of theft of food and non-food aid due to the current economic situation.

He said attacks on humanitarian convoys continue to happen in the country.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS called for collective responsibility to ensure aid is delivered to the needy population.

“We are concerned that economic stresses may lead to increased criminality, predatory attacks on humanitarian workers, and theft of their food and non-food aid,” said Haysom.

“This aid is critical for the survival of communities in the lean or rainy season, which as you know, has just begun,

“In Yongjia in particular, regular attacks on humanitarian convoys continue. It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that aid is delivered,

“I intend to pursue this issue with state and national level authorities while committing to do whatever UNMISS can do to secure the safe delivery of this aid.”

On Tuesday evening, a group of armed youth broke into a WFP warehouse in Bor town of Jonglei state and looted a vehicle packed with sorghum.

The suspects stole about 148 bags of sorghum from the cars.

The UN Humanitarian Affairs said the lorries were loaded with 100 metric tons of food assistance, enough to feed more than 11,000 people for one month.

Almost 7 metric tons of food to support those in most need living in Twic East was looted in the attack.

In February, a WFP vehicle transporting relief food broke down between Bor and Anyidi town when some unidentified people looted some food items.

The amount of food looted was undetermined, but about 38 bags were recovered in the nearby bushes and handed to the World Food Program.