The United Nations has condemned on Sunday a wave of “brutal” sexual attacks on women and girls in the northern town of Bentiu in South Sudan.
According to the aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), 125 women were raped by unknown gunmen during a 10-day spree of violence in Bentiu.
The U.N. mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) also noted that approximately 125 women and girls have sought medical treatment after having been raped or sexually assaulted as they walked along roads near Nhialdu and Guit on their way to Bentiu.
UNMISS says the attacks were reportedly carried out by young men in civilian clothing or military uniforms, who also beat and robbed the victims.
“The violent assaults happened in a Government-controlled area,” David Shearer, the head of the U.N. mission, said in a statement. “UNMISS peacekeepers have immediately sent patrols to the area to provide a protective presence and our human rights team has launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators.”
The report has however been disputed by local officials.
South sudan has continued to suffer the implications of the civil war which erupted in 2013, despite a fragile peace accord signed two months ago by the government and rebel groups.
0 Comments