JUBA– A Cessna aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Juba International Airport on Monday, killing all 14 people on board, including 12 South Sudanese and two Kenyan nationals.
The South Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority attributed the crash to “adverse weather conditions and low visibility.” The incident underscores the country’s chronic reliance on aging aircraft and a lack of ground infrastructure, making South Sudan one of the most dangerous aviation environments in the world.
The tragedy coincides with a deepening humanitarian standoff in Jonglei State. Aid agencies, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the World Food Program (WFP), reported Tuesday that the government has blocked lifesaving aid to the isolated village of Nyatim.
Eyewitnesses describe desperate conditions where displaced people are forced to eat leaves and roots to survive. While the government and opposition trade blame for the insecurity,
MSF officials confirmed that requests to deliver emergency relief were flatly denied by both local and national military authorities.
