On the evening of February 17th, the South Sudanese government (SPLA) invaded the Protection of Civilians (POC) camp in Malakal. Around 50 SPLA soldiers broke into the camp and ignited violence amongst three feuding ethnic groups.  Shootings, looting of properties, and burning of houses throughout the camp threatened the lives of over 48,000 civilians living at the site. The attack injured at least 40 people and killed 18 others.

The United Nations reports that 26,000 civilians have been displaced as result of the attack. An estimated 15,000 people fled the POC camp and sought shelter at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) peacekeeping base where access to water and sanitation is limited.

In response to the violence, UNMISS increased security along the vicinity of the POC site and communicated with local authorities to neutralize the conflict. However, POC residents criticized the United Nations’ (UN) inability to adequately protect civilians. Strict mandates limit UN security forces use of weaponry, causing POC residents to believe UN soldiers protect themselves rather than the civilians.

The Malakal POC site has sheltered and protected civilians from ethnic conflict since December 2014. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) entering the camp has nearly doubled after 26,000 additional civilians sought refuge at the POC site in 2015.

To read more, visit:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/18/nowhere-to-run-to-in-south-sudan-nowhere-to-hide-not-even-with-un.html
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53263#.VuGLsJMrJSy
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/feb/23/gun-battle-in-un-camp-deepens-south-sudan-humanitarian-crisis-malakal
http://www.msf.org/article/south-sudan-73-wounded-treated-malakal-poc-after-new-fighting-erupted-thursday
http://www.unhcr.org/56c6e9ef6.html