70 civilians take refuge at UN base in Juba after Wednesday clashes
March 5, 2014 (JUBA) – About 70 civilians sought refuge at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) compound in the capital, Juba, following military clashes which erupted on Wednesday over a salary dispute.
Heavy gunfire broke at about 9am (local time) at the South Sudanese army’s Geida barracks, not far from the UN House in Juba. Sporadic shooting was also reported around the university, the World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse, and near the UNMISS compound in Tomping.
In a statement issued in New York, a spokesperson for the UN secretary-general , Martin Nesirky, said UNMISS is concerned by a number of shooting incidents in Juba.
“The mission also reports that some 70 additional civilians have sought safety in the UN House site,” Nesirky said.
The situation in the capital remained calm on Thursday morning, with troops deployed deployed around the city and several roadblocks set up.
Some 43,000 civilians sought shelter at the two UN bases in Juba after violence erupted in mid-December last year.
Nesirky also made mention of the situation in Upper Nile state’s Nassir, where he said youth continue to fire sporadically in the area, with a stray bullet hitting a UNMISS office on Wednesday. He called on those responsible to respect “the work and sanctity of UN premises”.
(ST)