United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned on Monday night the government of South Sudan’s decision to expel his Deputy Special Representative and the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Toby Lanzer.

Ki-Moon said in a statement that Lanzer, who is also the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the UN Mission in South Sudan, has been “instrumental in addressing the increasing humanitarian needs of conflict-affected communities in the country and ensuring that life-saving humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable.”

The Secretary-General called on the government of South Sudan to reverse its decision immediately, urging it to cooperate with all UN bodies in South Sudan.