The recent incident in Ayod County of Jonglei State and other incidents where humanitarian agencies are subjected to fear have left the public wondering.
The Agencies in a nutshell, help both armed government and armed opposition forces simply by helping the suffering people of South Sudan due to conflict and other disasters.
Cases where humanitarian agencies are obstructed from helping the suffering population due to conflict and other disasters leave the public with the question such as when exactly the parties in the conflict will understand and stop obstructing the work of agencies.
Many humanitarian workers have lost their lives in the process of helping the suffering South Sudanese, a move that does not only disappoint but also frustrates others hence closing down of their offices in some locations.
Despite calls for accountability, the government and the armed group continue to play blame games without bringing culprits to book.
In addition to accountability and several calls from civil society organizations, the international community, and faith-based leaders, the practice of obstructing the work of humanitarian agencies continues, especially in hard-to-reach areas that entirely need help.
It is very unfortunate to see that the parties in conflict failed to recognize that the citizens suffer from the conflict and other disasters, and they place their only hope on the humanitarian agencies.
What should the suffering people do if all humanitarian agencies are frustrated with their work of providing life-saving services?
Exactly when will the parties change their style of adding more suffering onto the population that is subjected to suffering due to their act of war.?
Although such obstructions to humanitarian workers are everywhere, the incidents in South Sudan remain different.
Instead of the parties to the conflict admitting their mistake and promising to change, they instead blame the other party for the incident.
Hence, it makes it hard and leaves the world wondering when exactly the parties to the conflict in South Sudan will learn humanitarian law that talk about the protection of humanitarian agencies as well as civilian protection.
It is considered that this law will create awareness among the parties in conflict in South Sudan to respect humanitarian agencies as well as the civilian.
As the tension continues in some parts of South Sudan, the parties in conflict are urged to distance themselves and never to interfere with the work of humanitarian agencies.
The agencies’ purpose is to help the suffering people but not to support any side of the conflict; hence, they should not be dragged into conflict.
Any harm to humanitarians or aid workers becomes a serious harm to the huge population expected to get help from them.