‘Military activities’ in South Sudan’s Unity State have displaced up 100,000 people since the beginning of May, a period of just over a week, according to the United Nations.
Government forces have captured a number of villages in the oil-producing state, extending their control into areas where oil production has been off-line since December 2013.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan Toby Lanzer stated today, “Since the beginning of May, military activities south of Bentiu in Unity State have forced up to 100,000 people from their homes. Civilians living in the areas of and around Guit, Ngop and Nhialdu have been particularly struck by violence and, in an attempt to avoid it, have fled.”
He stressed, “This comes at the peak of the traditional planting season, when people need to be able to move freely and safely to be able to tend to their crops.”
Lanzer called on military forces not to target civilians or force them to flee their homes. He said UN agencies and their partners are urgently seeking access to areas of Unity State to assess the humanitarian needs of people.