Civilian shot dead at UNMISS base in Malakal

January 15, 2014 (JUBA) – The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that one civilians was shot dead and several others wounded in its base in Malakal, announced UN spokesman Martin Nesirky on Wednesday

The capital of Upper Nile state, Malakal is the scene of fierce fighting since two days ago as the rebel claim they retook it again from the government forces and the South Sudan army deny.

“The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) says that one civilian seeking shelter in its Malakal base, in Upper Nile State, was killed by bullets after gunfire entered the UN base there” on Tuesday Nesirky said.

He added that dozens of civilians and a UN military officer suffered gunshot wounds inside the base.

The peacekeepers fired multiple rounds of gunfire to deter anyone engaged in fighting from coming too close to its base, in order to protect civilians, he underlined.

However, Nesirky said that UNMISS on Wednesday reported that fighting stopped in Malakal but the situation remains fluid.

“The Mission says that sporadic gunfire can still be heard some distance from the UN base, where it is now protecting some 20,000 civilians”, he said.

The United Nations say over 1,000 people have lost their lives in the ongoing fighting but the International Crisis Group (ICG) has estimated that more than 10,000 people may have been killed.

The Mission also continues to report loud explosions and gunfire in the vicinity of its base in Bor, where it is protecting 9,000 civilians within the UN base. Meanwhile, in Bentiu, 6,000 civilians are seeking shelter within the UN base.

(ST)