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Over 37,000 sheltering in UN site in South Sudan capital: agency

Xinhua, August 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

About 37,200 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are seeking protection at one of the two UN bases in South Sudan's capital Juba, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Wednesday.

Citing a population count conducted at the UN House protection of civilians (PoC) site on Saturday, the IOM said that the majority of the 37,200 IDPs living at the UN House PoC site were those fleeing the civil war that erupted in December 2013.

"Thousands more fled to the base when fighting resumed in the capital between government and opposition forces in July," IOM said in a statement.

Renewed fighting between troops led by President Salva Kiir and those loyal to his former deputy Riek Machar that broke out in Juba in early July has displaced at least 15,000 people.

Facing insecurity and hunger, more than 190,000 people continue to seek protection at PoC sites across the country -- in Juba, Bentiu, Malakal, Wau, Bor and Melut, the IOM said.

The IOM said the population count was important for the delivery of humanitarian services, particularly for the UN World Food Programme to provide food for the full population registered at the site. Endit