A/HRC/40/CRP.1 These access constraints have come in the form of bureaucratic administrative impediments, operational interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities, restriction on movement of organizations, personnel and goods within and into the country, violence against humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities, and active hostilities impeding humanitarian operations.213 Direct operational interference has been particularly notable in the Wau Triangle area, including Baggari, Bisselia, Bazia and Gedi where the SPLA turned back humanitarian convoys at checkpoints for more than two months between mid-June and late August 2018.214 During this period, an estimated 28,000 people in the area in need of food, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, non-food items, education and protection assistance were left without support.215 When the Commission raised the issue with the Acting Governor in Wau, he responded that the State Government had been asking humanitarians to go to the area but they had failed to do so. This was directly contradicted by humanitarians and UNMISS. He subsequently added that sometimes access is refused for the mission’s own security.216 Bureaucratic administrative impediments also include illegal taxation, cumbersome accreditation processes, and extortionate fees to physically access areas.217 For example, state security forces’ demands for fees and confiscation of cargo was reported to have interfered with humanitarian flights in Rubkona in September 2018,218 while illegal checkpoints and illegal taxation have remained ongoing problems in Central Equatoria.219 At least 115 humanitarian actors were detained in 2018.220 Two such incidents occurred in the months of March and April in Central Equatoria, both involving the SPLA-IO. In March, a humanitarian convoy of three vehicles was detained and seven aid workers held for almost three weeks.221 In April, another convoy involving four NGOs and two UN Agencies was intercepted on the Yei-Tore road and 10 humanitarian aid workers detained for six days.222 In both instances, the convoys had obtained clearances from both the SPLA and the SPLA-IO prior to travel, but were detained by the SPLA-IO and accused of spying for or collaborating with the Government. Humanitarian aid delivery in South Sudan is already challenging even without these additional impediments. More than 70 per cent of roads are inaccessible during the rainy season, between July and December.223 The insecurity and access hurdles mean that the humanitarian community must rely on air and river transportation almost year-round, which can be up to eight times more expensive than road transportation. 224 3. Displacement As a result of the conflict, approximately a third of South Sudan’s population of 12.3 million225 has been displaced with more than 2.2 million people having fled the country OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Review (January – June 2018), 15 August 2018. OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Review (January – June 2018), 15 August 2018; OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (July 2018), 13 August 2018; OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (August 2018), 12 September 2018. 215 OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Review (January – June 2018), 15 August 2018. 216 Meeting with Wau State officials, Wau, 20 August 2018. 217 OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Review (January – June 2018), 15 August 2018 218 OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (September 2018), 10 October 2018. 219 OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (September 2018), 10 October 2018. 220 OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Review (January – June 2018), 15 August 2018; OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (July 2018), 13 August 2018; OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (August 2018), 12 September 2018; OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (September 2018), 10 October 2018; Humanitarian Access Snapshot (October 2018), 13 November 2018; OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (November 2018), 7 December 2018; OCHA, South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (December 2018), 9 January 2019. 221 Confidential Document, ERN D113581-D113586. 222 Confidential Document, ERN D113587-D113589. 223 OCHA South Sudan, Humanitarian Needs Overview 2018, p. 27. 224 OCHA South Sudan, Humanitarian Needs Overview 2018, p. 27. 225 Republic of South Sudan, National Bureau of Statistics, http://www.ssnbss.org/. 213 214 34