On Sunday, an outbreak of violence in South Sudan was sparked by an attempted coup to oust the government. On Wednesday, it was reported that 500 people have died in the violence, and around 800 more are wounded. The U.N. has also commented on the situation, saying that 15,000 to 20,000 people have sought refuge in U.N. compounds in Juba.
“I am not in a position to really characterize the political situation here, but the crisis is not over,” said Joseph Contreras, U.N. spokesman on South Sudan. “It is a very, very fluid situation, so I don’t think the country is out of the woods yet.”
As the dangerous situation continues, many citizens are seeking medical care, or simply a place to escape the violence. “We know there are more people who need care, but they are having difficulty reaching healthcare facilities because of the security situation and the lack of available transportation,” Felicity Gapes, an ICRC delegate heading the medical assistance effort.
President Salva Kiir has blamed the military for provoking much of the violence. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has addressed Kiir directly though, and asked that “all parties…cease hostilities immediately,” and that the government “exercise restraint in the management of the situation and to guarantee the protection of all civilians regardless of their ethnicities.”
