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UN: Gunmen Fire on Food Barges in South Sudan, 4 Wounded

April 24, 2014

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan says four people were wounded Thursday when gunmen attacked barges bringing supplies to a U.N. base.

This is the second time this month U.N. operations in South Sudan have been targeted, following a mob attack on a U.N. base in the town of Bor April 18.

The U.N. mission says Thursday's attack took place as four barges steamed east on the Nile River, carrying food and fuel to the U.N. base in Malakal, Upper Nile State, where thousands of civilians have taken refuge from violence.

The mission says spokespersons for both South Sudan's government and rebel forces have denied responsibility.

The U.N. Security Council is considering sanctions against leaders believed to be encouraging violence in South Sudan, where government and rebel forces have been fighting since December.

On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power called on the international community to sanction those who are targeting civilians or acting as 'political spoilers.'

On Twitter, Power also accused South Sudan's government of inciting violence against peacekeepers.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said Wednesday that neither the South Sudan government nor rebels has shown real interest in taking part in peace talks to defuse the ongoing crisis. He also faults the government for not adequately protecting its people.

'The United Nations is doing everything it can to protect the civilians that are fleeing the violence, the war. But let us never forget that the primary responsibility for protecting civilians is with the government. We are there to support but it is the government of South Sudan to make it so that its citizens are not killed.'

The U.N. Mission in South Sudan says rebels killed hundreds of people based on their nationality or ethnic origin after seizing control of Bentiu on April 15. Rebel spokesmen have denied carrying out the killings.

The United Nations has nearly 8,500 peacekeepers in the country.

Ethnic violence and clashes between rebel and government forces in South Sudan have killed thousands of people in recent months. The U.N. refugee agency says the fighting has driven more than 1.1 million people from their homes. Tens of thousands are sheltering on U.N. bases throughout the country.