One killed at UN camp in South Sudan’s Unity state

July 7, 2015 (JUBA) – A man sheltering at United Nations protection of civilian site in South Sudan’s Unity state was killed by unknown gunmen, the mission said on Tuesday.

“UNMISS personnel heard a gunshot at approximately 8:40 p.m. last Sunday that came from the northern perimeter of the PoC site. UNMISS personnel responded promptly and found the body of a male IDP with a gunshot wound in the back,” reads the statement.

Bentiu, the capital of oil rich Unity state, is currently under the control of government forces. Thousands of civilians are being hosted at protection of civilian sites since they took refuge at the UN camp when conflict broke out in the country in December 2013.

“Eyewitnesses told UNMISS that two armed men in military uniforms were seen inside the PoC site and fired the shot that killed the IDP. The gunmen then left the protection of civilian site and fled into the surrounding bush,” UNMISS added the statement.

The identities and motives, UN said, remains unknown as investigations get underway.

“Any attack on a protection-of-civilians site constitutes a direct assault against the United Nations and may constitute a war crime,” the UN mission said in a statement.

This is not the first time that an UNMISS protection-of-civilians site has come under attack by armed individuals in South Sudan but no suspect have ever been arrested.

The UN peacekeeping mission said it was time to hold the suspects accountable.

“UNMISS demands once again that the warring parties in the current conflict honour their obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel in South Sudan as well as civilians seeking shelter within the UN sites and respect the inviolability of UN property and assets in the country,” stressed the release also extended to Sudan Tribune.

(ST)