UNMISS Spokesperson Joseph Contreras says the IDPs clashed using iron bars and bamboo sticks before they were intercepted by the peacekeepers.
Contreras says 20 IDPs were injured in the fighting that started at about 8 o’clock in the morning and went on for about 3 hours.
He says the fighting was sparked off by a food distribution system that was introduced to prevent food assistance from being sold on the open market.
Contreras: “Some of the food that the WFP distributes for consumption by IDPs has been finding its way onto the open market and the introduction of these ration cards seems to have caused some discontent among some elements of the population. Another has to do with discontent among some of the IDPs with their community leadership. Those seem to be the two main causes. No UNMISS personnel sustained any injuries in the fighting this morning. I am told that 20 IDPs who took part in the fighting sustained minor injuries.”