By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan

Eight workers with the Christian aid organization Samaritan’s Purse were abducted over the weekend in the troubled northeast region of war-torn South Sudan, Army spokesman Brig. Lul Ruai Koang said Monday.

The incident occurred in Mayendit, some 680 kilometers (420 miles) northeast of the capital, Juba, in an area that got recently hit by famine.

“Eight humanitarian workers from Samaritan’s Purse were abducted by Riek Machar’s supporters yesterday [Sunday] after they briefly and surprisingly attacked our position; they are being held to ransom," Koang said.

“This is very bad for the humanitarian situation and the general population of Unity State,” he added.

Abductions of aid workers have been a frequent occurrence in South Sudan despite fierce condemnation by the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

UN says it condemned the abduction of aid workers and demands their safety. UNOCHA “is aware that staff of an NGO have reportedly gone missing in South Sudan and active negotiations are underway with all parties to ensure the return of the aid workers to safety,” UN Emergency Relief office in South Sudan said in an emailed statement.

More than three years of civil war in South Sudan has killed tens of thousands, divided communities along ethnic lines and displaced some 1.5 million into neighboring countries with another 100,000 people facing famine.