JUBA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudanese government on Wednesday announced creation of a high-level security committee to probe the recent attacks on aid workers and facilities in the Upper Nile region.
Michael Chiengjiek, South Sudan's Interior Minister, said President Salva Kiir authorized formation of the high-level committee to investigate the latest attack on aid workers.
"The president formed a high-level facts-finding committee that will go to the ground and investigate the details of the attack," Chiengjiek told reporters in Juba.
The minister said the meeting condemned the burning of the international organization headquarters in Maban, located in the Upper Nile region.
On Monday, youth in Maban attacked aid workers and facilities in the northwestern part of the country to protest lack of job opportunities for local communities, triggering a violent confrontation with security personnel.
The UNHCR and UN humanitarian agency in South Sudan condemned the violent attacks on Monday. International medical charity Doctors without Borders (MSF) announced suspension of its medical activities in the region on Tuesday.
According to UNHCR, South Sudan hosts nearly 300,000 refugees, mostly from Kordofan and Blue Nile States. Over 144,000 of those refugees live in four camps in Maban County.
UN said thousands of humanitarian agencies are providing aid to millions of people in South Sudan affected by war, hunger and disease in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
South Sudan's conflict that has now entered its fifth year erupted in 2013 after forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar engaged in combat.
The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, Juba, forcing Machar to flee into exile.
Millions of South Sudan's civilians have sought refuge in neighboring countries as the conflict rages on despite attempts by international players to end it. Enditem
