A patrol team sent out by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Wednesday morning was blocked by SPLA forces based in Wonduruba area, preventing the peacekeepers from travelling to Katigiri where government forces are accused of committing atrocities.

Several local sources confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that SPLA forces confronted and even slapped members of the UNMISS patrol team, prompting the team to abandon their journey to Katigiri.

Bishop Paul Yugusuk, an Episcopal cleric who participated in an earlier fact-finding mission, has accused the SPLA troops of “terrorizing and shooting the civilians in Wonduruba, in Mankaro, in Mangele, as well as in Katigiri.” This violence since last month caused thousands to flee their homes to the bush.

UNMISS Spokesperson Ariane Quentier confirmed the incident saying that their patrol team was physically assaulted by men in uniform who behaved in a 'hostile' way towards the peacekeepers.

“We were stopped by people in uniform who had a very hostile attitude towards the patrol and their attitude was so hostile that there was no room for compromises and the patrol had to turn back,” said Quentier.

Another UN spokesperson also confirmed the report. At a press conference in New York, Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the patrol was stopped between Juba and Wonduruba: “UNMISS military and civilian personnel were ordered to exit the vehicle and were physically assaulted by the soldiers. In view of the highly hostile attitude, the patrol turned back to Juba.”

Earlier this week, local sources told Radio Tamazuj that thousands of people displaced by the violence in the Wonduruba area are living in dire conditions, without medical care, sufficient food, and exposed to rains.

A woman speaking to Radio Tamazuj by phone from a location in the bush near Katigiri said that one child died last week due to an unknown sickness that caused the child to vomit. There was no medical treatment available for the child.

Another civilian, a father hiding in the bushes of Katigiri in a separate location, expressed concern over the health of his child. He said the health of his two year old child was deteriorating due to vomiting and swollen feet.

“My child became sick when we came into the bushes about three weeks ago. My child has swollen feet and is not eating well. Many children are in the bushes and are becoming sick. Not only children here that falls sick, even old people,” the father said.

For her part, Quentier reiterated calls for access for humanitarian workers to be allowed to reach areas where there are people in need.

“We have been calling upon the parties – all of them – all the warring parties to give access to UNMISS regarding security but also to all humanitarian stakeholders so that we can reach out to the people in need, that is something that should be given to us according to the status of forces agreement we have signed with government,” said the UNMISS spokesperson.