By Kei Emmanuel Duku
A desperate search for safety has forced one of the world’s largest aid agencies to pull out of a critical South Sudanese hub, leaving thousands of children without a lifeline after their delivery vehicles were seized at gunpoint.
Save the Children South Sudan confirmed it has officially frozen all operations in Walgak, Akobo West. The move comes after clearly marked humanitarian vehicles were repeatedly targeted and stolen, making it impossible for teams to reach the families who depend on them for survival.
The charity revealed that this is the second time they have been forced to deal with the theft of their fleet. While three vehicles taken earlier this year were eventually returned after intense negotiations, two more were recently snatched and have vanished.
“Two additional vehicles were taken and have not yet been returned,” the organization stated, though they offered one small relief: “No Save the Children staff were harmed in either incident.”
Despite the lack of physical injuries, the theft has effectively paralyzed the mission. In a region with no paved roads and vast distances between villages, a stolen truck is not just a lost asset it is a lost hospital and a lost food warehouse.
Explaining the crisis, the agency said, “The loss of these vehicles has severely constrained our ability to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance, as safe and reliable access to essential assets is fundamental to our operations.”
The organization reminded those responsible that they are not part of the political or military struggles in the region. They stressed that by stealing aid trucks, local actors are effectively starving their own communities.
“Save the Children is a neutral and independent humanitarian organisation,” the group declared. They added a stern warning that “the taking of humanitarian assets by any party undermines humanitarian principles and restricts access to children and communities in need.”
Faced with the reality that they can no longer operate safely, the charity has made the difficult decision to shut its doors in the area until they are given a guarantee of safety.
“Save the Children has temporarily suspended activities in Akobo while seeking assurances that humanitarian operations, staff, and assets will be respected,” the statement read.
The agency ended with a message of hope for the local community, promising that they are not abandoning the region forever, but simply waiting for the violence to stop so they can save lives again.
“We remain committed to the people of Akobo and stand ready to resume assistance once conditions allow,” the charity concluded.
Akobo County, situated on the border with Ethiopia, is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in South Sudan. The area is plagued by extreme flooding and local conflict, leaving thousands of children entirely dependent on international aid for food and basic medicine.