United Nations Mission in South Sudan or UNMISS condemned the killing of at least five South Sudanese employees of humanitarian non-governmental organizations on Tuesday in and around Bunj, Maban County of Upper Nile State.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Mission accused Mabanese Defence Forces militia of murdering two humanitarian aid workers in Bunj Town, adding that another aid worker was reported missing.
The Mission said three others died in an ambush including Norwegian Peoples Aid staff as they were attempting to return to the town.
The militia group targeted civilians of Nuer origin after they clashed with the defecting soldiers.
Dozens of humanitarian aid workers took refuge in the main compound of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Office.
UNMISS dispatched a unit of peacekeepers in four armoured personnel carriers from its base in Melut, Upper Nile State earlier on Tuesday to protect UN, humanitarian personnel and civilians.