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<p>We welcomed President Kiir’s November decree calling for unhindered humanitarian
access. However, data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) shows that humanitarian aid continues to be obstructed by all parties to the
conflict, including the Government of South Sudan. Challenges including levels of
violence, physical obstructions to aid delivery and bureaucratic blockages still exist,
despite the decree. OCHA reported that, in December 2017 alone, 111 incidents occurred
where aid was obstructed, which indicates that the number of incidents has not reduced
and that there has been no improvement in access since the decree. The annual total
of humanitarian access incidents increased again in 2017 to 1,159, the highest so
far.</p><p>We will continue to engage with South Sudan’s leaders at the highest level,
asserting pressure together with our international partners, to make clear that they
have a direct responsibility to improve access and stop the suffering of their people.</p>
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