Aid workers and community leaders expressed concern after increasing reports of abortions in the UN ‘Protection of Civilians’ sites in South Sudan. The UN says that rape is one of the factors leading to ‘unwanted pregnancies’ at these camps.
About 100,000 people are living under UN protection in South Sudan out of fear of ethnic violence perpetrated by government or opposition forces. Living conditions in some of the camps do not meet humanitarian standards.
OCHA, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stated in one of its regular reports published 29 August that there is “growing concern” after several fetuses were found at the camps.
“There was growing concern about abortion incidents in Malakal and Juba PoC sites, where several fetuses have been found,” reads the UN report.
“GBV [gender-based violence] is one of many contributing factors to unwanted pregnancies; in Malakal, women noted that survival sex is also of growing concern.”
The report notes that humanitarian workers are gathering more information in order to help plan a response to this issue.
Meanwhile, the UN also reports that aid workers are providing psychosocial support to survivors of sexual violence in Bor, Lologo and Malakal.
“Psychosocial and basic emotional support was provided to GBV survivors. Over 1,100 community members (75 per cent female) were reached with awareness raising activities in those locations.”
Photo: Women await a food distribution in the Bentiu PoC, 12 July 2014
Related:
Scores of women raped, killed in wave of sexual violence in South Sudan (8 May)
‘Grief and anger’ at Bor camp: psychosocial report (17 Apr.)