15 April 2014 - Hundreds of people fleeing violence which broke out yesterday in the oil-rich Unity State capital Bentiu arrived at the UNMISS site today.

The new arrivals said more civilians were on their way, and recounted experiences that had sent them running to the base.

“When we found out that some people were dead, we took advice from other friends to go to UNMISS to save our lives,” said Hanan Osman. “We found a car and came here.”

Sarah Meding arrived at the protection site without her children, having left them earlier with a friend. She said she would turn back to try and find them.

Another newcomer, Angelina Nkgbu, arrived with her daughter and grandchildren. “I am an old woman, but no one wants to die.”

Yesterday, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Lanzer described the violence as “an outrage” to the South Sudanese people. He said the number of people seeking refuge at the UNMISS protection site had doubled to at least 9,000 in the last few days.

Hundreds of women and children were “huddled” in Bentiu Hospital, where they went to seek refuge, and UNMISS Mongolian peacekeepers had been dispatched to protect them, Mr. Lanzer added.

Peacekeepers from the battalion also rescued about 80 people trapped at the airport and brought them to the protection site.

UNMISS Acting Spokesperson Joseph Contreras said the Mongolian soldiers had been sent to extract 10 employees of a foreign oil refining company about 25 kilometres west of Bentiu.

“All ten were brought back to safety,” said Mr. Contreras. “Five of them were wounded in the hostilities of yesterday (14 April). Two of them are in a critical condition, but the Mongolians truly have shown great valour.”

James Dut Malual Dut, a South Sudanese labourer from the oil refinery, said the attackers had taken a fuel truck.

“We called some friends in UNMISS to come and help us,” said Mr. Dut.