Juba crisis – July 10
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is outraged at the resumption of violence in Juba today, 10 July, which is severely impacting on the civilian population.
The heavy fighting in Juba town, including in close proximity to the UNMISS compounds at UN House Jebel and Tomping, has prompted approximately 1,000 internally displaced people to flee from the UNMISS protection of civilians site (PoC) 1 into the UNMISS compound at UN House Jebel. The heavy fighting downtown Juba has forced hundreds of civilians to seek protection at UNMISS’ Tomping base. The United Nations is gravely concerned about reports that armed forces have prevented civilians from seeking protection.
Both UNMISS compounds in Juba have sustained impacts from small arms and heavy weapons fire. The United Nations urges all parties to respect the sanctity of the United Nations and condemns any deliberate targeting of United Nations premises and its personnel.
United Nations peacekeepers continue to protect displaced civilians at PoC sites 1 and 3. For the safety and security of those displaced civilians, the United Nations urges all parties to respect the civilian nature of the PoC sites. UN peacekeepers are also mobilized to protect UNMISS bases in UN House and Tomping.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General has directly called on the leadership at the highest level in South Sudan to immediately restrain their forces, to engage in dialogue to find a political solution to this crisis and to allow access to the United Nations to be able to patrol in order to reassure the civilian population.