UN voices concern over escalated fighting in South Sudan

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday voiced concern about an escalation in the fighting between government and opposition forces in South Sudan, a UN spokesman told reporters here.

The head of the UNMISS David Shearer said that fighting in the west bank of the River Nile in the north part of South Sudan has reached "worrying proportions," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The UN Mission said what began with an exchange of fire between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and Aguelek opposition forces has expanded geographically and military resupplies have been observed arriving in the area.

Shearer on Thursday returned to the South Sudanese capital Juba from a two-day field visit to Bentiu and Leer, two towns which have been among the most affected by the country's conflict, he said.

"Military operations on the west bank of the Nile river have forced people out of their homes, and the town of Wau Shilluk is now reported to be deserted," Dujarric said. "Humanitarian workers have been evacuated and aid is not being provided."

South Sudan has faced ongoing challenges since a political face-off between President Salva Kiir and his former Vice-President Riek Machar erupted into full conflict in December 2013.

The crisis has produced one of the world's worst displacement situations with immense suffering for civilians.

Despite the August 2015 peace agreement that formally ended the war, conflict and instability have also spread to previously unaffected areas. Enditem