Dozens of civilians sheltering in a UN base in the South Sudan town of Bor have been killed in an attack by armed youths, the UN says.
Toby Lanzer, the UN's top aid official in South Sudan, told the BBC that the youths broke through the gates and opened fire.
UN peacekeepers returned fire and eventually repelled the attackers, he said.
Almost 5,000 civilians are sheltering at the base in the war-ravaged town.
Thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan since fighting began in December between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar.
“Start Quote
End Quote Toby Lanzer UN assistant secretary general in South SudanWe've got clear rules of engagement and we will use force if at all necessary to protect people whose sole purpose for being inside our base is to stay alive”
More than one million people have been displaced in the conflict.
Mr Lanzer said a group of about 350 youths had left the centre of Bor, in Jonglei state, and approached the base on Thursday morning, allegedly wanting to present a petition.
"They managed to force the gate open, they came in and started shooting indiscriminately," he told the BBC.
"It is the bravery of the peacekeepers that managed to repel the attack. Unfortunately we have had significant loss of life. I can't confirm the number but I can tell you it runs into the dozens."
Base reinforcedMr Lanzer, the UN assistant secretary general in South Sudan, said the youths were dressed in civilian clothing and it was not clear who they were.
"It was totally unprovoked and I think that meting out violence on a group of civilians who are sheltering and seeking protection from the United Nations is not only cowardly it is abominable," he said.
Mr Lanzer added that the UN had stepped up security following the attack.
"We have further reinforced our base and we will send very clear signals to anybody who wishes to approach us with any intent of wrongdoing," he said.
"We've got clear rules of engagement and we will use force if at all necessary to protect people whose sole purpose for being inside our base is to stay alive."
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody conflict to become the world's newest state.
References
- ^ Continue reading the main story (www.bbc.co.uk)
Source http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27074635
Newer articles:
- At least 58 killed in S.Sudan attack on UN base - 18/04/2014 16:35
- South Sudan deploys army to guard UN base after attack kills dozens - 18/04/2014 15:33
- South Sudan deploys army to guard U.N. base after attack kills dozens - 18/04/2014 15:25
- Civilians pay heavy price in worsening S.Sudan war - 18/04/2014 09:06
- SSudan: 12 die after mob attacks UN base - 18/04/2014 03:38
Older news items
- Child soldiers battle in worsening South Sudan war - 17/04/2014 23:08
- U.N. condemns attack on civilians at South Sudan peacekeepers base - 17/04/2014 23:03
- 12 killed in South Sudan after mob attacks UN base; peacekeepers open fire - 17/04/2014 19:41
- S. Sudan: 12 die after mob attacks UN base - 17/04/2014 18:00
- Gunmen storm S.Sudan UN base, wound dozens of civilians - 17/04/2014 18:00
Latest news items (all categories):
- Hope for Christmas gift as South Sudan talks return to Nairobi - 05/12/2024 10:26
- Chinese medical team brings relief to South Sudan patients - 05/12/2024 10:18
- Sudanese bishop speaks about being brutalized by soldiers - 05/12/2024 10:08
- President Biden: Absent Principles - No Honoring Words - Broken Promises - 05/12/2024 09:55
- South Sudan’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Continues – Analysis - 01/12/2024 17:47
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan rebels to release child soldiers - 01/04/2019 08:41
- اتفاقية فشودة بين روبت قوانق قائد مجموع المسلحة بأراضي شلو وعميد جون كوليكير قائد الجيش الشعبي - 21/09/2010 06:00
- South Sudan's VP Riek Machar Rejects Ouster From Ruling Party - 26/10/2022 10:40
- South Sudan: HRW - Crises in South Sudan, CAR, Provoke Abuses - 22/01/2014 07:38
- In South Sudan, up to 2.4 million children are not attending school - 07/07/2018 04:41
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 58639 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22221 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21370 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 18901 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18051 times