“The reports include allegations of the killing of at least one South Sudanese national working for an global NGO, as well as rapes, including of worldwide NGO staff”.
Advertisement
Jennifer Cobb, a spokeswoman for Internews, confirmed that John Gatluak was killed Monday at the compound of the upscale Terrain Hotel, where he had been taken for his safety after he was briefly arrested Friday night.
“This entire operation has been under the direct supervision of Swaraj who had formed a high level task force to monitor the situation in South Sudan”, he added.
Machar’s fighters have been forced from Juba and are scattered around the nearby areas of Jebel and the Yei Road, while Kiir’s troops have set up defensive positions on a major thoroughfare, according to the UN.
The government has blamed the opposition for starting the clashes last week.
Both Kiir and Machar earlier this week declared a ceasefire, but observers have warned that the violence could return.
Despite signing a peace agreement in August, Mr. Kiir and Mr. Machar have squandered opportunities to put aside mutual distrust and de-escalate their two-year civil war.
“The UN mission, as well as other UN agencies, funds and programs are preparing for the temporary relocation of non-critical staff from Juba”, said Dujarric, adding that they would likely be moved to Nairobi, though he did not have any figures. “When I look at the photo, it looks like he raised his hands up as someone who is surrendering”.
There was renewed fighting between the government and former rebel forces since Thursday in Juba. Three Ugandan soldiers were hurt, he said.
About 40 other Chinese nationals were also brought to Uganda on another flight Thursday.
There has been no official death toll from the recent flare-up but at least five soldiers died last Thursday and a health ministry source said 272 people, including 33 civilians, were killed on Friday.
The U.S. Embassy has said it was arranging flights out of the country for Americans.
Specially chartered evacuation flights have been taking foreign nationals out of the country since Wednesday.
“We are launching OP #SankatMochan to evacuate Indian nationals from South Sudan”. Many cars had been shot at or burned.
“The people hit hardest by this fighting are struggling to cope in appalling conditions”, said Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan. “If we go home, maybe it will happen again”.
The United Nations said it was ready to work with IGAD on the proposals after thousands of civilians in Juba fled to U.N. bases in the capital to seek refuge.
But UNICEF said it had been able to take advantage of the lull in fighting to deliver 100,000 litres of water to fleeing citizens. They said food is coming, but it is not reaching us.
Advertisement
On the question of whether an arms embargo as proposed by the UN Security Council, el Gizouli said that those were just symbolic gestures that will not yield much.
