The number of civilians killed in intercommunal clashes in Malakal camp in Upper Nile State has risen to at least 13, the UN Mission said.

On Thursday morning, the sound of gunshots ripped through the usual stillness of dawn adjacent to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s base in Upper Nile state’s capital, Malakal.

Violence erupted among two displaced communities who are sheltering in the UN Protection of Civilians Site, triggered by a stabbing incident.

Initial reports indicated that at least three persons had been killed as of Thursday early afternoon and more than 20 injured, with some of those injured receiving treatment at the UN mission’s hospital.

According to a new statement by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday evening, at least 13 civilians have been killed and more than 20 others injured, per reports received until 6 p.m. local time. 

 “Being next door to the Protection Site with peacekeepers who routinely patrol the area and interact with communities, we are always alert and ready to respond robustly the minute we receive reports of unrest,” reveals Alfred Orono Orono, the Head of the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in the state.

“During last week’s clashes, military and police peacekeepers reinforced their deployments immediately to defuse the situation. Today, we had extra boots on the ground soon after hearing guns being fired. UNPOL and military peacekeepers are currently patrolling both within the site and around the external perimeter, in partnership with the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, to shore up confidence among the displaced community,” he adds.

The Mission has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged communities to exercise maximum restraint.

 “As a peacekeeping mission, our core job is to support the government in ensuring civilians are safe and secure. The first pillar of protection is prevention, but in South Sudan, tensions often rise in a matter of seconds. We, therefore, rely hugely on partnerships with South Sudanese interlocutors, working collaboratively to restore calm and order. We are grateful to state authorities and the Governor for their unconditional and active support in the past weeks,” avers Mr. Orono Orono. "But it's always a very hard day when people become casualties of conflict."

As of December last year, some 37,032 displaced individuals are sheltering at the Malakal Protection Site, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) biometric registration.