15/01/2014
January 14, 2014 (JUBA) –The South Sudanese government said
alarmed by the tragic deaths of more than 200
their
after
died
who
capsized as they
attempting to flee renewed fighting in Malakal,
oil-producing
of
capital
Upper Nile state.
“We do not have
details, but
preliminary reports we have at the moment is that about 200 to 300 people have drowned into water. The boat was overloaded
were
they
because
rushing to escape the fighting”,
spokesperson for
South Sudanese army
Philip
Colonel
(SPLA),
Aguer, said on Tuesday.
Local residents
multiple military sources confirmed that heavy fighting broke out on Tuesday when
government forces aligned to former-president
Machar staged a fresh attack on the town, which has been the scene of armed struggle on two previous occasions.
While Aguer confirmed
Sudan Tribune that fighting had broken out in Malakal,
denied
however he
the town had again
under rebel control.
The UN humanitarian chief in South Sudan, Tony Lanzer, took to Twitter
security situation unravelled, confirming that the agency’s peacekeeping bases in the area had been swamped with almost double
of people
number
refuge.
“Today there is fighting anew in & around Malakal, and the number of civilians seeking UN protection has
from 10,000 to 19,000”, he tweeted.
continuing
were
Battles
rage in several towns despite the resumption of
talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, which
stalled
week
disagreement over
release of political detainees loyal to Machar who
being held in connection to an alleged failed
attempt in the capital, Juba, last month.
In New York, the
secretary-general
Moon said he was alarmed by the increase of fatalities resulting from
South
in
fighting
citing the drowning deaths of civilians.
Ban said he remained “deeply concerned about the rising number of displaced people in the country, which surpassed 400,000
week, underlining
workers are
challenges to
humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected civilians.
The UN chief also strongly condemned
commandeering
humanitarian vehicles
the theft of food stocks and other relief items
government and
government forces”.
May god be with us
