S. Sudanese civilians fleeing Upper Nile state: UN

August 21, 2014 (JUBA) – Unknown numbers of South Sudanese civilians fleeing shelling in Upper Nile state’s Dolieb hill arrived at United Nations protection sites in the capital, Malakal, which currently hosts over 17,000 people, world body said Thursday.

Mortar shelling, the UN said, was heard close to its Bentiu base, but no casualties involved. Over 40,000 displaced people are reportedly sheltered at the UN base in the Unity state capital.

All parties in the conflict should immediately cease their military operations, fully cooperate with the protection of civilians mandate and engage in meaningful dialogue to advance the political process, the UN stressed.

The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) said aid workers at the sites for displaced people in Bentiu resumed operations on Thursday after scaling down following a recent attack on a female aid worker.

The attack was reportedly the second against an aid worker in recent weeks.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed and about 1.3 million displaced in the country’s worst ever outbreak of violence in its post-session era.

(ST)