A boat contracted by UN food agency to ferry supplies across the Nile to flood-affected populations. (Photo: WFP)

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it recorded 33 access incidents in South Sudan, mainly in Upper Nile, Warrap and Unity as well as Abyei, according to its January 2025 humanitarian report.

OCHA said the incidents include bureaucratic access impediments, violence, threats to assets, facilities and personnel and physical access obstacles.

In Upper Nile, OCHA said two boats contracted by an international NGO carrying supplies and personnel to Ulang County encountered unidentified gunfire from the riverbank on the Sobat River near Nasir, in which one NGO staff member was wounded.

In Warrap State, the humanitarian agency said armed local youth looted humanitarian food consignment in Panliet, Gogrial West, which were destined for Wunrok in Twic County.

While in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, UN contracted vehicles were reportedly attacked by armed groups on the road to Gumuruk.

In the Abyei Administrative Area, a shot was fired by an unidentified perpetrator at a refugee transit centre, resulting in one refugee sustaining life-threatening injuries.

According to OCHA, physical access along the Nile River, particularly to island communities of Twic East and Duk counties of Jonglei State, remains limited due to blockage by vegetation.

Road access to Unity’s Mayom County remains impassable due to last year’s flooding, slowing down the delivery of supplies in response to the cholera outbreak and hindering the timely delivery of medical supplies needed to combat cholera.

OCHA said incidents of violence and threats against humanitarian assets, facilities and personnel perpetuated by various armed groups continued to occur across the country, endangering staff and jeopardizing essential humanitarian operations.