UN records sharp increase in violence against civilians in South Sudan

JUBA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said Thursday the number of civilians affected by violence in South Sudan increased sharply at the end of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

UNMISS said in its latest quarterly brief that from October to December 2022, the number of civilians harmed increased by 87 percent compared to the same period in 2021. "This rise was accompanied by a disturbing increase in abductions and conflict-related sexual violence which have gone up by 464 percent and 360 percent, respectively when compared to the previous year. However, the overall number of incidents of violence for the entire 2022 decreased compared to the previous year," UNMISS said in a report released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.