30 January 2014 - Over 79,000 civilians were still sheltering at eight UNMISS bases in South Sudan, a UN Spokesperson said in New York today.

Addressing journalists, Acting Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said 10,000 of these civilians were at the UNMISS base in Bor protected by 1,000 troops.

“UNMISS (also) reports that it has conducted 264 military and 61 police patrols in various parts of the country in the last 24 hours,” said Ms. Haq. “In Leer, in Unity State, the Mission has received credible reports of ongoing fighting in the town, but it is not in a position to verify and confirm this independently at this point.”

The spokesperson added that the mission was continuing to verify reports of human rights violations, collect evidence and document human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in a number of places, including Juba, and the Jonglei State capital Bor.

Ms. Haq also noted that Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson had discussed recent crises in Africa during the opening of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, saying he remained deeply concerned about South Sudan.

“He said that combined efforts should now focus on protecting civilians, preventing gross violations of human rights and facilitating humanitarian assistance,” she said. “He urged the parties to strictly adhere to the cessation of hostilities agreement signed last week and to intensify their effort.”

Mr. Eliasson said there was “hardly any higher priority for the UN than tangible and sustainable development in Africa”.

“Peace, development and human rights as well as the rule of law are inextricably linked,” he said. “Conflict-shattered economies can take a quarter of a century to recover.”