Juba, May 17, 2018 (SSNA) — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNM ISS) says it is sending more troops to Unity state to protect civilians being targeted in fighting between South Sudan warring forces, citing intentional killing of civilians.
“What we are witnessing on the ground is the deliberate killing of civilians as well as the sexual violation and abduction of women and children,” UNMISS said in a statement.
“Our fresh deployment will enable peacekeeping troops to patrol deeper to reach remote villages where the worst atrocities are taking place to create a protective presence and deter further fighting,” the text explained.
The move comes less than two weeks after government troops and militias attacked civilians in Leer and Mayendit counties.
In the statement, UNMISS said its 150 peacekeepers will soon arrive in Unity state.
A Leer county resident who spoke to the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) on condition of anonymity in Juba said Juba-backed soldiers and militias deliberately targeted civilians in Mayendit and Leer simply because they are suspected of being supporters of South Sudan’s rebels.