JUBA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations said Tuesday that renewed clashes between armed tribal militias in South Sudan's Upper Nile State have displaced 8,000 civilians.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said renewed fighting was reported between armed factions in several locations including Padit in Kodok Payam, Fashoda County in Upper Nile State between Oct. 6-9. A payam is the second-lowest administrative division below county in South Sudan.
"In Padit, the entire population of the village was reported displaced, and the village burnt down, details on civilian casualties are not yet available," OCHA said in its latest report released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
OCHA explained that the White Army youth reportedly attacked Nyigier, a village located a few km from Kodok town, and as attacks advanced towards Fashoda County, tensions increased with reports indicating that the youth mobilized to protect Kodok town.
It said some 23 people sought shelter at the UNMISS compound in Kodok and local sources estimate that 8,000 people from Kodok town and other locations have moved to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) site for safety.
OCHA stressed that registrations of displaced people remain pending until the situation stabilizes and humanitarian teams from Malakal can support them.
"Humanitarian activities are affected, and some humanitarian personnel relocated from Fashoda County for safety reasons. Much humanitarian staff from UN system members and NGOs moved from their compounds in Kodok town to the Kodok humanitarian hub, near the UNMISS," OCHA said.
It stressed that since the beginning of the conflict along the Nile River in mid-August, more than 18,000 internally displaced persons have sought shelter at the Protection of Civilian Site (PoC) in Malakal as of Tuesday. ■
