The United Nations Mission in Sudan today expressed concern over the escalating violence in Southern Sudan over the past couple of weeks where over 150 people have been reportedly killed and many more injured and displaced.
The United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative for Sudan (SRSG), Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, commending the actions so far taken by the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), urged the regional government to investigate these incidents and to redouble their efforts to help de-escalate the rising wave of violence in Southern Sudan.
"UNMIS offered to send peacekeeping troops to be present to help protect civilians during the rotations of SPLA companies that were involved in confrontations with civilian cattle-keepers in Akot, near Rumbek, in late December and early January. About 24 soldiers and civilians were killed and many displaced during these clashes", he announced.
"In Atar, Jonglei State, UNMIS flew senior government officials into the area and helped to deliver government-provided humanitarian aid on the day of the attack during which several civilians were killed and an estimated 100 tukuls were burned. Humanitarian agencies are bringing further assistance to the victims in the days ahead", he added.
"In Wunchuei, Warrap state, where tens of people were killed in inter-tribal cattle raids late in December, UNMIS sent a team of peacekeepers to defuse tensions and help prevent reprisal attacks. The team also has representatives of humanitarian agencies to initiate a humanitarian needs' assessment on the ground especially for those who have been displaced due to the violence. Thousands have been reportedly displaced but these figures as well as those concerning the victims of the attacks still need to be verified", the SRSG mentioned.
"UNMIS will continue to work within its mandate and capabilities to help GoSS deal with the rising violence in Southern Sudan and to help protect civilians", he concluded.
For further information, contact Ashraf Eissa, UNMIS Spokesperson, phone: + (249) 912 39 22 70, e-mail: eissaa@un.org or Kouider Zerrouk, UNMIS Deputy Spokesperson, phone: + (249) 912 39 65 39, e-mail: zerrouk@un.org