JUBA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Friday that it documented 3,469 civilian victims of conflict in South Sudan in 2022, an increase of two percent from 2021.
In a report on violence affecting civilians released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the UNMISS said that most of the victims were either killed or injured, abducted, and others were victims of conflict-related sexual violence.
UNMISS disclosed that 42 percent of South Sudanese who suffered from violent conflict were located in Upper Nile and Warrap states, while Jonglei, Unity, Eastern Equatoria and Central Equatoria states collectively accounted for approximately 50 percent of the victims.
It also said there were three distinct surges of violence in 2022 between April and May in southern Unity State, between July and September in Warrap State, and between August and December in the Greater Upper Nile region.
In addition, it said that civilians in Upper Nile and Unity states were impacted by violent incidents from the parties to the conflict and their affiliated militia groups, while Central Equatoria state suffered from both inter-communal violence in Juba and Terekeka counties, and violent incidents by the parties to the conflict in Yei, Morobo, and Lainya.
It noted with concern the increase by 96 percent in conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls as compared to 2021.
UNMISS called on all South Sudanese parties to focus on the prospects for sustainable peace, security, and peaceful, fair and inclusive elections.
Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, called on the transitional unity government to demonstrate political will and step up efforts against impunity, investigate human rights violations and abuses and hold perpetrators accountable, particularly as deadly violence remains an issue of grave concern in parts of the country.
