![US embassy press release illustration [Photo by US embassy in Juba]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/US.webp?resize=768%2C455&quality=80&ssl=1)
The incident reportedly occurred on September 7; personnel from SSPDF reportedly raided a boat transporting commodities for the World Food Programme (WFP) in New Fangak.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the U.S. embassy in Juba accused the SSPDFof stealing the food and supplies intended for South Sudanese civilians experiencing food insecurity.
“While the stolen goods were replaced on September 20, this reflects a worsening pattern of looting and rent-seeking directed against assistance activities in South Sudan by armed groups and individuals in positions of authority across the country,” partly read the U.S. statement.
The embassy called on the government to prioritize the safety and security of aid workers in the country.
It emphasized the importance of halting attacks on individuals who are assisting South Sudanese people by delivering essential humanitarian aid.
The United States asserted that the situation is serious because the individuals involved are entrusted with national security.
U.S called on the government of South Sudan to protect aid workers helping the vulnerable South Sudanese against attack.
“We call upon South Sudan’s leaders, at all levels, to prevent such actions and to be a partner to those—including international donors—seeking to help the South Sudanese people.”
The U.S. government called on the transitional government to establish conditions that would resolve the country’s humanitarian crisis.
“We are increasingly concerned about the inability of implementing partners delivering humanitarian assistance to reach conflict-affected populations in Upper Nile State, due to humanitarian access denials by transitional government officials in areas that face a possible risk of famine.”
“We call on South Sudan’s leaders to immediately eliminate the unacceptably high costs and risks that threaten delivery of aid, ensure humanitarian access, and start using public revenue to address public needs,” it said.
More than 83,000 people are facing “catastrophe,” the most severe level of extreme hunger, while 7.7 million, or half the population, grapple with acute food insecurity between April and July 2025, according to a joint report released by the government and UN agencies on Thursday.
The latest Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) report, released in July, indicated that 83,000 people will face catastrophic hunger in the Pibor Administrative Area and Upper Nile State.
The assessment also revealed an additional 2.4 million people facing emergency food shortages and 5.2 million experiencing crisis conditions between April and July 2025.
