South Sudanese army behind Wednesday attack - UNHCR

The South Sudanese army has been accused of involving in the Wednesday attack that left over 18 dead and 90 injured at a United Nations civilian base in the northeastern city of Malakal, the Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Refugees (UNHCR) reported.

At least 26,000 of the 48,000 displaced from this camp have fled the site as a result of the attack, stated Andreas Needham, spokesperson of the UNHCR.

“UNHCR employees have reported that most civilians have fled, taking what they could while the few left behind need humanitarian aid,” according to Andreas Needham.

According to the UNHCR, the fight broke out in the camp between members of two rival ethnic groups, the Dinka and Shilluk.

“The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) entered this camp,” the UNHCR spokesperson said adding that “civilians in the camp experienced shootouts, looting and fire on their tents.”

Malakal, the capital of the oil rich state in Upper Nile (north-east), is one of the major battle fields in the civil war that has ravaged the country for more than two years.

The city is under the control of government forces, but is located on the edge of the rebel control areas.