At least 500 people have fled to a UN base in Unity State’s Bentiu town and an unknown number to other locations in the state following fighting between government troops and rebels in Guit and Nhialdiu, areas previously under rebel control.
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York that the UN headquarters received reports from its peacekeepers in South Sudan that “more than 500 displaced people have arrived at the mission’s protection of civilians site in Bentiu, in Unity State, since 3 May.” Already about 53,000 ethnic Nuers are under UN protection at their base in Bentiu.
“Most of them have arrived from Guit County and the area of Nhialdiu in Rubkona County, where heavy fighting has reportedly been taking place between Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) troops and opposition forces,” Dujarric said.
Meanwhile, larger numbers of civilians have fled not into government-held Bentiu where UN troops are located but into rebel-held territory where the UN peacekeepers have no presence, according to an e-mail from a UN official seen by Radio Tamazuj.
“We are receiving reports that populations are beginning to move south towards Leer. The displacement pattern will presumably involve movement south, as well as dispersing to the bush and swampy areas,” reads the message.
For its part, the UN Mission in South Sudan has declined to confirm reports of the government offensive. “The Mission is aware of reports claiming that SPLA forces have gained control of territory in Nhialdiu and Guit County that has been under the control of armed opposition forces for some time. UNMISS is unable to independently verify these reports,” Dujarric said.
However, the internal email from the UN in South Sudan names a number of rebel towns captured by the government and characterizes the ongoing violence as “offensives,” adding “There are reports of widespread abuses and violations taking place against civilians in connection with the offensives.”
Photo: A village at the edge of the swamp where communities sought protection from violence, Panyijar County, Unity State, February 2015 (Radio Tamazuj)
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