UN chief in South Sudan deplores SAF’s bombing of civilians

April 17, 2012 (JUBA)- The head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Tuesday expressed disappointment and concerns about Sudan Armed Forces’ (SAF) continued aerial bombardment of areas populated by civilians in Unity and Warrap states.

The top UN representative in the country in a statement released on Tuesday reminded the two parties engaging in hostilities of the Security Council resolution 1996 (2011) that mandates UNMISS to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.

“The loss of civilian lives as a result of indiscriminate bombings in Bentiu and Mayom is unacceptable,” said Hilde Johnson, UNMISS Special Representative to the Secretary-General.

“It is the responsibility of the parties to hostilities to respect the physical integrity of civilians and their right to live without fear of displacement,” she added.

Johnson said over the weekend that UNMISS confirmed several bombings including five bombs that were dropped in Mayom where a UN Mission county support base was hit. As a result of these bombings eight civilians were killed and 22 injured.

“I call on both parties to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law, protect civilians and guarantee the safety of international aid organizations and United Nations personnel and assets,” said Johnson.

SAF spokesperson Al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad denied any involvement in bombing outside its borders and insisted that it is focused on trying to retake Heglig region which was taken over by South Sudan’s army last week.

The violence flare-up has raised fears of a return to all-out war. More than two million people died in Sudan’s 1983-2005 civil war, one of the longest in Africa.

(ST)