The U.N. World Food Programme said on Wednesday that it is suspending operations in some areas of South Sudan after three South Sudanese staff members disappeared in a volatile state.
The agency said in a statement Wednesday that it is "extremely worried" about the fate of the missing workers, who disappeared on April 1 while traveling in a convoy to distribute food from Malakal, the Upper Nile state capital, to a place called Melut. Contact with the men was lost after "intercommunal fighting" erupted along the road, according to the statement.
"We regret that we must temporarily suspend food assistance in Akoka and Fashoda counties," said Eddie Rowe, the WFP deputy director for South Sudan. "We hope to resume as soon as we have the necessary assurances that our staff and partners can work safely."
Despite safety concerns, WFP says its goal is to assist roughly 3 million people throughout the country in 2015.
South Sudan has been generally volatile since December 2013 as government forces try to put down a rebellion led by a former deputy president. During this time aid groups have reported increasing harassment of humanitarian workers.
