UN evacuates non essential staff from conflict-hit South Sudan

UN has evacuated its non-essential staff from the conflict-hit South Sudan following the recent fighting in the capital, Juba, a UN official said here on Sunday.

Rosa Malango, UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda told Xinhua by telephone that the non-essential staffs of UN agencies operating in the troubled country have been evacuated to neighboring Uganda and Kenya for security and safety reasons.

Malango on Friday met and brief UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who had briefly stopped in Uganda on his way to the Rwandan capital, Kigali for African Union Heads of State summit about the evacuation exercise and unfortunate events in South Sudan.

"We have temporary evacuated the non essential staff from South Sudan because of the fluid situation. We shall continue to closely monitor the situation and events in South Sudan," said Malango.

The UN evacuation, which kicked off on Friday following a recent fighting between government troops of President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar in Juba, is expected to conclude on Sunday.

"We shall be on standby to receive our colleagues. However, all critical staff for the UN will remain on the ground. These include humanitarian affairs, political affairs and security," said Malango.

Uganda's foreign affairs ministry last Wednesday announced that several government and organizations have evacuated their staff and citizens to the East African country for security and safety issues.

The Chinese government also on Saturday evacuated some of its embassy staff and some citizens trapped in the recent fighting in Juba. Endit