United Nations Radio

Fighting between ethnic groups in Southern Sudan is targeting women and children, says Joseph Contreras, Deputy-Chief Public Information Officer for the U.N. mission in Juba.

Sudanese women

So far, clashes in the area are said to have claimed close to a thousand lives. In the past, the violence has often claimed the lives of young men who guard the cattle camps. Now, it has escalated to engulf civilians.

"Since the beginning of the year, we have noticed that some of the ethnic violence afflicting parts of Southern Sudan has produced higher casualties among women and children than violence in those same areas in past years has cost. It's not that only women and children are being targeted, but they are turning up in higher numbers among the dead caused by this ethnic violence."

The UN Mission described the overall situation in South Sudan as patchy and remains concerned about lingering tensions amongst the various communities over resources.

Jocelyn Sambira, United Nations Radio.

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