AFRICOM deputy commander visits South Sudan

[Elisabeth Janaina]

AFRICOM deputy commander visits South Sudan

Ambassador Alexander Laskaris, the Deputy to the Commander for
Civil-Military Engagement, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM),
visited Juba yesterday to learn more about the deteriorating
humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

U.S. Embassy said in a statement yesterday that Alexander visited a
World Food Program warehouse and met with United Nations Mission in
South Sudan (UNMISS) leaders and humanitarian agencies. He was
accompanied by the Charge d’Affaires at the US Mission to the UN
agencies in Rome, Thomas Duffy.

According to the statement, UNMISS and the humanitarian agencies
briefed him on the life-threatening conditions facing the four million
displaced persons and six million people – half the population – who
are food insecure.

They also shared information about the dangerous operating environment
and continuing access challenges that make the work of humanitarian
actors trying to deliver life-saving assistance more difficult.

Ambassador Laskaris said, “The United States continues to support the
people of South Sudan in the midst of this devastating, man-made
crisis”.

“However, we need to see real commitment and actions on the part of
all the leaders of South Sudan to end the violence and bring peace and
stability to the country.” He said.

He urged the Government of South Sudan to ensure the protection of
humanitarian workers doing life-saving work.