The United Nations Children’s Fund has condemned the looting of some of its supplies by the army.

Pictures have been circulating on the internet showing soldiers wearing bright blue school bags with the Unicef logo while marching in areas of Jonglei state.

Unicef Executive Director Anthony Lake told the media in New York that the organization is concerned about the looting of supplies meant for schoolchildren.

Mr. Lake said Unicef will raise the issue with the government of South Sudan.

“The outrageous and sad incident in which members of the armed forces would be looting and taking Unicef backpacks,” he said, “and then wearing them while in uniform.”

“We’ll certainly be pursuing this with the government in Juba. The looting of any supplies of any kind for humanitarian purposes is outrageous, and this is not the first time this has happened.”

Mr Lake said Unicef will continue to provide services to children in South Sudan despite the incident which he describes as an impediment in the operations of UN agencies in the country:

“You cannot absolutely prevent it, because the only way to prevent it would be to stop doing everything we can…and we are staying and we are delivering, and working in the toughest places in South Sudan for the sake of the children and the populations.”

Mr. Lake called on government forces and forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar to respect UN properties and work in South Sudan.

The SPLA spokesperson, Colonel Philip Aguer, told the media this week that the army will investigate the matter.