Akobo, Jan 23 (AP) United Nations peacekeepers arereturning to the only UN base in South Sudan "clearly" in anarea under opposition control as residents hope for protectionfrom what they call growing attacks by government troops.
"We've had several requests to be there" in Akobo, UNmission chief David Shearer told The Associated Press, callingthe gap in services there significant. The first peacekeepersare expected to arrive in the next few weeks.
This will be the first UN peacekeeper presence in Akobosince 2013, when the base of 43 troops was abandoned afterarmed men stormed the compound and killed three Indianpeacekeepers.
Situated near the Ethiopian border, the bustling town isone of South Sudan's last opposition strongholds and hasbecome a refuge for thousands of ethnic Nuer fleeing thefighting in Upper Nile and Jonglei states.
South Sudan's five-year civil war has killed tens ofthousands and displaced millions amid warnings of ethnicviolence. The latest cease-fire, which took effect December24, was broken just hours later with both sides blaming eachother for the violations.
Residents said clashes have increased in recent weeks invillages around Akobo, with people from other parts of Jongleistate streaming in daily in search of safety. Authoritiesestimate 2,000 people have arrived since the beginning of themonth.
During a visit to the rebel-held territory last week, theAP spoke with several people who fled attacks.
Standing in a dilapidated school where she now shelters,Mary Maway said she arrived five days ago.
"They killed my children," the 28-year-old said, loweringher gaze to the floor.
Earlier this month when government troops attacked hertown of Yuai, Maway said she watched soldiers shoot her 5-year-old and 6-year-old.
"I hope the UN will protect us here," she said.
South Sudan's government has repeatedly said that any attacksit has carried out during the cease-fire are only in self-defense.
The opposition government in Akobo said it hoped the UNpeacekeepers will hold those responsible for the fighting toaccount.
"If we're attacked they'll be witness and can respond,"said Gatluak Gatkek, deputy for Akobo's humanitarian arm ofthe government. "If there's an attack on civilians they can goonto the base and be protected."But the new UN presence will be different from its nineother bases around the country, with six of them shelteringmore than 200,000 civilians after they threw open their doorsin an unprecedented move when the civil war erupted inDecember 2013.(AP)AMS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.