Aid Plane Crashes in South Sudan, Killing its Crew

Three members of a cargo plane crew were killed on Tuesday morning when a plane carrying food aid to flood victims crashed in the oil-rich Unity State in northern South Sudan.

1. Incident Details and Casualties

• Flight and Location: The plane took off from the capital, Juba, heading towards the Leer area, but crashed about 20 kilometers from the landing strip.

• Cargo: The plane was carrying about two tons of food supplies destined for flood victims.

• Casualties: The international organization "Samaritan's Purse," which organized the flight, confirmed that all three crew members died.

• Company: The aircraft belonged to "Nile Air," a local company providing cargo and private charter services. No official details regarding the type of plane or the causes of the accident have been released.

2. Humanitarian and Security Context in South Sudan

• Humanitarian Crisis: The accident occurs amid recurrent humanitarian crises in South Sudan due to floods and conflicts, making thousands of displaced people entirely dependent on international aid.

• Unity State: The state is considered a sensitive area, combining oil wealth with its border location with Sudan, which increases its vulnerability to security and political tensions.

• Air Transport Challenges: Humanitarian organizations rely on air transport as an "essential option" for delivering aid due to poor infrastructure and difficult access to affected areas. This challenge exacerbates risks in a country suffering from weak oversight of air safety standards.