Geneva, February 9: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the escalating violence in South Sudan and called on all parties to immediately and decisively halt military operations and de-escalate tensions through dialogue.
In a statement delivered by his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, the Secretary-General said nearly 10 million people—more than two-thirds of South Sudan’s population—are in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance and continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the escalating violence in South Sudan,” the statement said, warning that fighting, attacks and looting of humanitarian and health facilities, along with movement restrictions and insecurity on key supply routes, are crippling humanitarian operations and shutting down essential services. Civilians, including aid workers, are being placed at serious risk, it added.
The statement noted that since late December, at least 11 healthcare facilities have been attacked across Jonglei State, severely disrupting life-saving services. These attacks have also included the seizure of 12 vehicles, including an ambulance.
“In the past week alone, incidents across the country have included repeated attacks on a World Food Programme convoy, an airstrike on a hospital run by Médecins Sans Frontières, and the burning of a Save the Children field office and destruction of its health centre,” the statement said.
The UN chief condemned the blatant disregard for medical and humanitarian operations, describing such actions as unacceptable and stressing that they must stop immediately.
According to the statement, more than 370,000 people have reportedly been displaced by fighting across South Sudan so far this year, including over 280,000 in Jonglei State. The displacement is unfolding amid a rapidly worsening cholera outbreak, further compounding the humanitarian crisis.
“The Secretary-General calls on all parties to immediately and decisively halt all military operations, de-escalate tensions through dialogue, uphold international law, protect civilians, and ensure safe and sustained humanitarian access, as well as the security of aid workers and United Nations peacekeeping personnel and their assets,” the statement concluded.
According to UN News, South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but soon descended into a brutal civil conflict marked by political rivalry, ethnic violence and repeated breakdowns of peace agreements. Despite a peace deal signed in 2018, ongoing insecurity and localised fighting have continued to undermine stability and recovery across the country.
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