9 February 2015 - The number of criminal acts committed at UNMISS Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Malakal, Upper Nile State, has doubled since last October, according to internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering there.

“Most of the crimes are theft and organized prostitution,” said IDP Peace and Security Council Chairman Matthew Bechol. “At night, they (criminals) … cut the tents with knives and take away anything they find.”

Some criminals use sleep-inducing drugs to mask their activities, Mr. Bechol said. “The burglars are using drugs they spray in the tents to make everybody … (go into) a deep sleep while they are stealing property.”

Upper Nile UNPOL Officer Vida BOAFO said they had received reports about drug spraying, but victims had been unable to identify the substance being used.

One victims, Achol Nyibong, said thieves had snuck into her tent at night while she and her children were sleeping.

“They took my handbag and other property,” Ms. Nyibong said. “I got up to follow them and found my handbag thrown on the roadside, but the money which was in it was taken.”

A witness, 14-year-old Chador Luka, said a week ago burglars cut his neighbour’s tent and stole property. “The burglars came at night,” Chador said. “When we got up and shouted ‘thief’, they left the house and ran away.”

Upper Nile UNPOL Adviser Alan Songoro said other crimes in the PoC included 116 cases of domestic assault and three of murder. He said alcohol and drugs were key contributors to the crime rate.

“Same people are bringing drugs into the POC,” he said. “Last week we intercepted two and half kilograms of marijuana.”

Officer Sangoro also noted that criminals released from Malakal Prison during the conflict may have made their way to the PoC.

He said UN Police made daily patrols around the Malakal PoC in an effort to prevent crimes.