The maternity wing of a hospital operated by the International Medical Corps in the ‘Protection of Civilians’ site in the UN base in Juba near Jebel was hit by artillery during today’s clashes.
“No staff or patients were injured, but the attack forced International Medical Corps’ team to relocate critical patients to another facility inside the UN base,” said a statement from the IMC.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of heavy weapons near the UN’s protection of civilian sites and particularly the shelling that hit our maternity ward today,” said Dr Teshome Adebabai, International Medical Corps’ Medical Director in Juba.
The hospital in the POC provides health care to more than 50,000 people seeking refuge in the camp, according to IMC. It is the only secondly level health facility in the camp, the group said.
“People fled into the PoC seeking protection from violence and instead find themselves in the crossfire. We call on all parties to stop the violence, respect the rights of civilians, and allow humanitarian organizations to provide life-saving care to those in need,” said Dr Teshome.
IMC said that they have treated 139 wounded patients in the PoC since the Friday July 8. They said they have operated without water for three days and are running out of fuel which would leave them without electricity or an ambulance.
“The violence has also made it impossible for humanitarian organizations to move throughout the city, leaving the hospital with a reduced number of staff and dwindling medical supplies and medicines,” the group said.
The shelling comes amid media reports that government forces fired their artillery into the camp, while also blocking civilians seeking safety from reaching the camp.
Two Chinese peacekeepers were killed last night when shelling hit the base, Chinese media said.