These trucks will carry water, to send to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, as part of our emergency response. Save the Children has previously sent five trucks of essential supplies to Gaza, and now we’re resuming our shipments. * please note – ISIS is a well known Egyptian water brand named after an Egyptian Goddess
Save the Children has temporarily suspended its humanitarian operations in Walgak, Akobo West County, following two separate incidents involving the taking of its clearly marked humanitarian vehicles, the organisation said.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Save the Children South Sudan confirmed that earlier this year, three of its vehicles were taken without consent but were later returned after engagement with relevant local actors.
However, the organisation said two additional vehicles were more recently taken and have not yet been recovered.
Save the Children noted that no staff members were harmed in either incident, but said the loss of the vehicles has severely constrained its ability to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to vulnerable children and communities in the area.
“Safe and reliable access to essential humanitarian assets is fundamental to our operations,” the organisation said, warning that disruptions to its logistics capacity directly affect the delivery of critical aid.
Save the Children reiterated that it is a neutral and independent humanitarian organisation, stressing that the taking of humanitarian assets by any party undermines humanitarian principles and restricts access to people in need.
“As a result, Save the Children has temporarily suspended activities in Akobo while seeking assurances that humanitarian operations, staff and assets will be respected,” the statement said.
The organisation said it remains committed to the people of Akobo and stands ready to resume assistance as soon as conditions allow for safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
