Sixty civilians injured in fighting near UNMISS

28 Oct 2014

Sixty civilians injured in fighting near UNMISS

27 October 2014 - More than 60 civilians were injured yesterday after fighting broke at a protection of civilians site next to UN House on the outskirts of Juba, according to a UN spokesperson.

Four of the injured civilians were in serious condition, while two armed UN Police officers suffered minor injuries in the melee. Tear gas and warning shots were fired to halt the rioting.

“By late afternoon yesterday, however, the situation was brought under control,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric at a press briefing. “The mission is investigating the cause of the rioting, and two suspects have been detained by UN Police on suspicion of allegedly instigating the violence,” he added.

Some 11,000 civilians are being protected by UNMISS at the site where the fighting broke out, while more than 100,000 civilians are housed at such sites nationwide.

In related news, Mr. Dujarric noted that $637 million was still required to maintain humanitarian aid operations in South Sudan until year’s end. Thus far, 61 per cent of the $1.8 billion requested has been received. In all, aid agencies in South Sudan have reached 3.5 million of the 3.8 million people targeted with some form of aid this year.