South Sudan / UNMISS urges Malakal belligerents to respect UN personnel and property

By UNITED NATIONS
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JUBA, South Sudan, April 24, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The UN Mission in South Sudan deeply regrets the continuation of hostilities in the Upper Nile State capital of Malakal and the resulting displacement of the civilian population.

UNMISS received more internally displaced persons at its protection-of-civilians sites in the Mission's compound outside Malakal today. At the same time, the Mission is adhering to its policy of providing shelter to combatants who surrender their weapons and remove their military uniforms prior to entering one of its protection sites.

A number of stray bullets hit an UNMISS vehicle and sanitation facilities used by its military peacekeepers earlier today. Some mortar rounds also landed 400 meters outside the perimeter of its compound, and shelling took place near the installation of the Mission's Bangladeshi riverine unit.

While there is no evidence that the Mission has been targeted thus far during this week's fighting, UNMISS calls on the belligerent forces to ensure the safety of all UN personnel and the inviolability of UN physical assets. The Mission also calls on the commanders of these belligerent forces to exercise restraint and immediately cease all hostilities.