UNHCR has also called on all armed parties in South Sudan to ensure safe passage for people fleeing the fighting that erupted late last week in Juba between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar.
"We, like the UN Security Council and many others, condemn the violence in Juba but welcome efforts by the two sides to implement a ceasefire and hope this holds. OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) has reported that the fighting displaced some 36,000 people," said UNHCR spokesperson Leo Dobbs.
The United Nations Mission (UNMISS) to South Sudan twitter handle posted: "36000 ppl displaced during height of fighting in #SouthSudan – some sought shelter in UN compounds. @unmissmedia"
UNHCR said that inside South Sudan, some 7,000 internally displaced people have sought shelter as the UN’s bases in Juba.
"Providing them with food, shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation facilities will remain a critical challenge so long as the security situation remains bad," said the UN refugee agency.
The UNHCR call to keep neighboring borders open comes after it established that the Uganda-South Sudan crossing had tightened security on the South Sudan side leading to "a significant decrease in the number of new arrivals coming into Uganda over the weekend".
"Just 95 people crossed on Saturday, dropping to 36 on Sunday, compared with a daily average of 167 for July and 171 for June. We expect a higher level of new arrivals once the border reopens," said UNHCR.
Those that have managed to cross have reported indiscriminate attacks against civilians, with buses from Juba to the Uganda border being stopped and robbed, said UNHCR.
UNHCR said that in western Ethiopia’s Gambella region, it had stepped up border monitoring with Ethiopia’s refugee commission, while in Kenya they had started emergency preparations in case of a major influx.
"There has not been any big influx at the Kenya-South Sudan border, though over the weekend UNHCR received 36 individuals from Eastern Equatoria state. We have stepped up border monitoring and await more news," said UNHCR.
Although some 9,000 urban refugees have told UNHCR about their security concerns, as well as difficulties in getting food and water, other refugee-hosting sites across South Sudan are reported to be calm, said the UN refugee body.
South Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya, Chol Ajongo, said the "situation is calm" in Juba, the capital. Briefing the media in Nairobi, Ajongo said that the latest violence was triggered by a "rumour" that Marchar was under arrest in the Presidential Palace.
He said that following the rumours, the SPLA-IO forces proceeded to attack the government forces at the Presidential Palace and killed many soldiers and civilians.
Ajongo said President Kiir took the initiative and protected Vice President Machar by arranging for armed security to "escort Machar back safely to his residence in Jebel Kujor area".
The Ambassador said that "anti-peace" elements in Machar’s SPLA In Opposition (SPLA-IO) forces had been dislodged from the city centre, although they had taken "offensive posture" in other parts of the country.
Following the renewed clashes between the opposing forces, a number of countries were reported to have started evacuating their citizens out of the country, despite a ceasefire between the forces holding for a second day in Juba.
Media reports quoted Machar’s spokesman as saying that Machar and his troops had left Juba "to avoid further confrontation".
Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohammed told the BBC that Kenyan nationals would not be evacuated, as the ceasefire was holding. This was despite a report by the Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers and Allied Workers Union that 16 of their members had been killed in the recent flare-ups.
Commercial flights to Juba were also cancelled, leaving charter flights to evacuate hundreds of aid workers and other foreign citizens from Juba.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an arms embargo against South Sudan and appealed to the UN Security Council to target sanctions against those involved in the fighting.
South Sudan overwhelmingly voted to break away from Sudan in a referendum in 2011, becoming the newest country in the world.
But the country descended into civil war in 2013 after President Kiir accused Vice President Machar of plotting to overthrow him. Kiir fired Machar and the cabinet. Machar fled the country and only returned in April this year to resume his position as VP in a new government of unity.
Observers say that the renewed clashes in South Sudan threaten a peace deal that was signed by both parties in August 2015.
--ANA--
