Juba – Fighting at a UN compound sheltering people fleeing conflict in South Sudan has killed 18 people, including two Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) workers, the international medical aid group said.
South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013 when a row between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar ended with fighting that often occurred along ethnic fault lines.
People had been taking refuge in UN-administered “protection of civilian” or Protection of Civilian sites since then.
Thousands had been killed and more than two million people displaced from their homes since late 2013.
The UN peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, had said on Thursday fighting in the night before between youths sheltering in the UN compound in Malakal had killed five and wounded 30 after violence erupted between two ethnic groups.
The UN Secretary-General’s spokesman said later at least seven people had been killed.
“At least 18 people were killed in armed conflict that erupted in the Protection of Civilians site in Malakal.
“They include two South Sudanese staff members of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) who were attacked in their homes,” the medical charity said in a statement.
“MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said it had also treated 36 people wounded in the fighting, including at least 25 with gunshot wounds.
“This attack on civilians is outrageous and we demand that armed groups stop these actions,” Marcus Bachmann, Coordinator of MSF projects in South Sudan, said in a statement. (Reuters/NAN)