01-06-2025
Uganda air-drops relief food aid to South Sudan's violence-hit state
KAMPALA, June 1, (Xinhua): The Ugandan military said on Saturday that it has conducted air-drops of 600 metric tons of essential food supplies targeting several locations in South Sudan's violence-hit state of Upper Nile. Chris Magezi, acting military spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that Uganda Peoples' Defense Airforce has airlifted humanitarian aid deliveries provided by international partners from South Sudan's Juba International Airport to the hard-hit areas in Ulang and Nasir counties.
In March, intense fighting broke out in Nasir between the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army, a militia group that the government claims is linked to the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, led by First Vice President Riek Machar. Machar is currently under house arrest in the national capital of Juba.
"In the past few days, our air force has airdropped emergency food aid to hard-hit areas where thousands of displaced people are currently living in famine conditions following the outbreak of armed violence early this year," said Magezi. Uganda's military, at the request of South Sudanese authorities, deployed an expeditionary force in the country in March to help support SSPDF in rear security operations to secure Juba, as well as provide other military-technical assistance following the deadly clashes. Magezi said the security situation around the greater Juba region has since stabilized, easing tensions that have allowed foreign missions, businesses, and trade to resume operations.
