Governor James Odhok Oyay briefing the US ambassador to South Sudan, Michael J. Adler on the humanitarian situation in Upper Nile State during his visit to Malakal town - Credit: Upper Nile Governor

The United States Ambassador to South Sudan on Thursday visited Malakal town in Upper Nile State to assess the humanitarian situation there.

This is according to a press release issued by the office of the Upper Nile state governor.

The statement mentioned that the governor of Upper Nile State received in his office Thursday morning the US ambassador to South Sudan, Michael J. Adler, who is on a visit to assess the humanitarian situation in the state.

However, Governor James Odhok Oyay briefed the US ambassador on the government’s progress, citing security improvement in the state, while also highlighting humanitarian challenges facing the state as Upper Nile State receives an influx of returnees from Sudan.

The US ambassador expressed the US government’s commitment to humanitarian support for returnees.

“Despite a decline in global resources due to the world crisis, the US’s emergency fund will be over 100 million USD by the end of this calendar year,” Ambassador Adler has said.

The ambassador appreciated the recent deployment of unified forces to Upper Nile State but called for more to be done to enhance peaceful coexistence in the state.

He also called on the government to clear the illegal checkpoints, emphasizing the importance of exempting humanitarian aid from taxation.

The US Ambassador Michael J. Adler to Malakal town of Upper Nile came after two battalions of the necessary unified forces had been deployed to the different counties in the state.