The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) deplores the continued fighting in Juba, which resumed today at approximately 09:00, and the severe conditions it has imposed on the civilian population.  

The heavy fighting in Juba town has forced more than 7,000 people to seek protection at UN House in Jebel and the Tomping compounds. 

The United Nations condemns in the strongest terms possible  the use of heavy weapons, including rockets from attack helicopters, close to UNMISS protection of civilians sites and is gravely concerned about reports that armed forces have prevented civilians from seeking protection. 

The United Nations reiterates its call for all parties to respect the civilian nature of the UNMISS PoC sites and inviolability of UN premises. In the last 24 hours, 67 people have been injured in or around the protection of civilians sites, eight of which have died.

UNMISS compounds are caught directly between the fighting and continue to sustain impacts from small arms and heavy weapons fire. UN peacekeepers, including military and police units, remain mobilized to protect UNMISS bases in UN House and Tomping, including the civilians that have fled the fighting, and UNMISS protection of civilians sites.  UNMISS underlines that its capacity to protect civilians will be increasingly challenged if the heavy attacks around UN compounds and protection of civilians sites continue.

The United Nations condemns any deliberate targeting of UN premises and its personnel, which constitutes a serious violation of international law.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General continues to call on the leadership at the highest level in South Sudan to immediately restrain their forces and bring an end to the fighting.  The Special Representative of the Secretary-General is also gravely concerned about violence spreading to other parts of South Sudan.  

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General calls on all actors with influence on the parties, including those in region and the broader international community, to prevail on the leaders in South Sudan to stop this violence and restart the peace process.

The Special Representative again urges both sides to grant unhindered access to the United Nations to be able to patrol in order to reassure and protect the civilian population in Juba and in the rest of the country.  

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