UN evacuates staff amid reports of heavy fighing in South Sudan

May 11, 2015 (JUBA) – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed growing concern about “continuing and consistent reports” emanating from two north-eastern counties regarding a surge in kidnappings and rapes and a surge in violence, which has forced UN and other aid agencies to withdraw staff from the region.

The UN, in a statement, said it had credible information indicating numerous towns and villages in Guit and Koch counties in Unity state were reportedly “burned” amid killings, abductions of males as young as 10 years of age, rape and abduction of girls and women and forced displacement of civilians.

“Although it is unclear who committed such atrocities, it is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that all civilians are protected, as well as for all parties to ensure that all civilians are protected, as well as for all parties to ensure appropriate command and control of their combatants to prevent the targeting of civilians,” the UN mission in the country said in a statement issued on Monday.

The UN also expressed concerns over what it described as the aggressive behaviour by by South Sudanese soldiers towards UN staff at checkpoints in the country.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced since violence broke out in the country in 2013. Aid agencies say up to 3 million people could face starvation if the conflict in the world’s youngest nation remains unresolved.

The conflict has forced about 120,000 people to seek shelter in UNMISS compounds across the country with projections that the number could reach 293,000 by end of year.

CHILD SOLDIERS

The UN estimates that 13,000 children are associated with armed forces and groups nationwide in South Sudan, with credible evidence reportedly indicating that both warring parties have engaged in the recruitment of child soldiers since the conflict began.

Ellen Margrethe Loj, the head of UNMISS recently reminded the parties to the conflict of their “obligation to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law” and urged them to take “all measures not to harm civilians and guarantee the safety of international aid organizations and United Nations personnel and assets.”

“There is no legitimate reason to burn civilian homes, or target civilian girls, boys, women or men through violence, including sexual violence,” Loj said in a statement..

The UN humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan, Toby Lanzer also warned that ongoing hostilities in Unity state forced all non-governmental organizations and UN agencies to evacuate staff, bringing relief efforts south of the town of Bentiu to a halt.

As a result, he stressed, over 300,000 civilians in need of emergency relief, including food aid and medical services, remained devoid of any “life-saving assistance.”

(ST)