At Least 11 Civilians Killed In Attack On Jonglei Base: UNMISS The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has estimated that at least 11 civilians were killed during an attack by about 2,000 armed youths on a U.N. peacekeeping base in Jonglei state. 21 December 2013
*JUBA, 21 DECEMBER 2013 [GURTONG]- *The UN Mission in South Sudan has condemned in the strongest possible terms the unprovoked attack on its base in the Jonglei state town of Akobo on the afternoon of Thursday, 19 December. Earlier Friday, UNMISS was able to confirm the deaths of two Indian Battalion soldiers, who were killed while defending the base against the assailants. The remains of the deceased were airlifted this morning from Akobo to the UNMISS compound in Malakal in neighbouring Upper Nile State and arrived in Juba on Friday afternoon. A third Indian Army peacekeeper was wounded in the chest during the attack and has been flown by UNMISS aircraft to Malakal, where he is reported to be in stable condition. “All UN personnel who remained overnight in Akobo have been airlifted to Malakal this morning in four UNMISS helicopters along with seven South Sudanese and a dozen staff members of non-governmental organizations,” a statement from the Mission said. UNMISS estimates that at least 11 of the South Sudanese who sought refuge inside the base were killed during the attack. “I deplore this unjustified and unwarranted attack on the United Nations Mission base in Akobo, killing peacekeepers that were here to protect civilians and serve the people of South Sudan. It is a criminal act for which the responsible must be held accountable. Such attacks will not deter us from continuing to discharge our mandate,” said Hilde F. Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary General. UNMISS expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of our fallen colleagues who were deployed In Akobo to help protect South Sudanese civilians and were killed and wounded in action. Operations are underway to evacuate 40 UNMISS peacekeepers from a base in the Jonglei state town of Yuai. The attack began at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Thursday when an estimated 2,000 armed youths believed to be of Lou Nuer ethnicity surrounded the UNMISS base in Akobo and opened fire in the direction of South Sudanese civilians of Dinka ethnic origin who had sought refuge inside the compound earlier. While trying to open negotiations with the assailants, UNMISS peacekeepers stationed inside the compound came under sustained attack. Following the takeover of the base, the assailants seized weapons, ammunition and other supplies. A coordinated action involving soldiers of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and UNMISS peacekeepers was able to re-establish control over the Mission’s base by 6 p.m. on Thursday. The base remains under the protection and control of SPLA troops. UNMISS continues its efforts to verify the total number of fatalities and whereabouts of the bodies and investigate the sequence of events on 19 December. A memorial service will be held in the UNMISS compound adjacent to Juba International Airport on today morning, following which the remains will be transported to India. “This senseless act of violence must not go unpunished, and UNMISS will support all efforts to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,” concluded the statement. The United Nations said between 35,000 and 40,000 civilians were sheltered at U.N. bases around the country. Posted in: Home<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/1/Home.aspx>, Governance<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/6/Governance.aspx>, Humanitarian<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/8/Humanitarian.aspx>, Featured Stories<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/137/Featured-Stories.aspx> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oorZtozzg6aqM_2kFYtfB3spgbS7eDtAeay8BoVDyPtBw%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
