The southern army has dismissed reports by the UN that the SPLA is violating humanitarian law by not allowing UNMIS to access victims of violence in Jonglei State.
UNMIS issued a statement saying SPLA’s operations against renegade George Athor are having a huge impact on the civilian population and asked the army to allow them to assess the humanitarian situation on the ground.Talking to SCR news over the phone, SPLA spokesperson Phillip Aguer Panyang said the army was only targeting Athor’s forces and no civilians were killed in the crossfire.
Mr. Aguer added that UNMIS failed all over South Sudan and Abyei and they failed to approach Mr. Athor whose attacks have killed hundreds and displaced thousands of civilians in Jonglei state.
Mr. Aguer mentioned that UNMIS’ mandate is to keep peace and monitor the Khartoum militia who are killings South Sudanese.
H added that the UNMIS has the eye facing the North closed and fails to see the build up near Abyei.
The SPLA spokesperson called on the international community to step up efforts and reach out to the people displaced by the clashes.