UN: Three aid workers killed in South Sudan amid Ebola screening

Three aid volunteers of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) were killed in Morobo County of South Sudan while they were working at Ebola screening points. The volunteers were tracking the spread of the deadly disease when they got caught in a crossfire along the DR Congo border. The deceased included one female and two male volunteers.

During the clashes, two other male volunteers suffered injuries and one of them is recovering from a gunshot wound. Another female aid worker along with a four-year-old son of the murdered female worker was abducted during the attacks and their whereabouts are not known.

Read: South Sudan’s Former Child Soldiers Struggle To Move On

IOM suspends screening at five points

IOM condemned the killing of the aid workers and suspended EVD screening at five points of entry sites, namely Isebi, Bazi, Kirikwa, Lasu and Okaba.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleagues and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends,” said IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission, Jean-Philippe Chauzy.

“We call for the perpetrators of these senseless acts of violence against innocent civilians and humanitarians to be brought to justice,” added Chauzy. 

Read: South Sudan’s Opposition Leader Warns Of Return To Civil War

'We are not a target'

IOM Director General António Vitorino said that humanitarians and civilians should never be subjected to such heinous acts of violence. “We are not a target,” said Vitorino. The UN migration agency has also decided to suspend the operations of flow monitoring points and support to health facilities.

“The safety of our personnel is paramount and will not be further jeopardized until we secure guarantees for the security of all our personnel operating in Morobo County,” said Chauzy.

In July, the WHO had declared an international health emergency after a case of the deadly virus was confirmed in Congo. It was the fifth such declaration in the history after the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the emergence of Zika and the swine flu pandemic and polio. Many people had felt that the declaration was long overdue.

Read: Ebola Outbreak Feared In Sweden As Patient Develops Similar Symptoms

Read: Burundi Security Forces Kill 14 Armed Men From DR Congo In Musigati