Renewed fighting causes “deep concern”

Carolyn McAskie, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, expressed “deep concern” over resumed hostilities between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Sudanese Government in Southern Sudan. In a statement issued from New York, Ms McAskie said reported fighting around Gogrial in Bahr-el-Ghazal and Mabaan in Upper Nile had caused the displacement of at least 4,000 people.
It has also been reported that air raids on Rumbek and other locations in the Bahr-el-Ghazal, Lakes area and Western Equatoria last week, had resulted in three deaths and the wounding of several others.

The statement said the events were of particular concern because “they not only bring about further deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the area but also jeopardise the crucial humanitarian ceasefire that both parties pledged to respect earlier this year”. McAskie urged both parties to respect and extend the provisions of the cease-fire “in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to all beneficiaries, and the safety of civilians and the United Nations humanitarian personnel throughout the country”. The ceasefire is scheduled to expire on 15 June.