UN News Today 06 January 2025 |

South Sudan: Communal violence the primary driver of conflict

Communal violence remains the primary driver of conflict in South Sudan and continues to exact a heavy toll on civilians across the country, UN peacekeepers said on Monday.

In an update covering July to September last year, the UN Mission in South Sudan – or UNMISS – expressed concern about the steep increase of abductions and combat-related sexual violence, compared with the same period last year.

UNMISS’s human rights division said that 299 non-combatants were killed between July and September last year, along with 310 injured and 151 abductions.

More than 32 people were also subjected to sexual violence in conflict settings.

Killings and injuries were highest in Warrap State, accounting for 60 per cent of total casualties, while most abductions took place in Central Equatoria State – representing nearly seven in 10 of the national total.

The peacekeeping mission reported that tensions between Government security forces and so-called National Salvation Front splinter groups “continue to threaten civilians across the Greater Equatoria region” in violation of terms agreed and signed by both parties.

Head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom condemned the “trend of increasing violence against women and abductions” and reiterated the peacekeepers’ continuing efforts to protect civilians, amid years of clashes and attempts at ceasefires between government and opposition forces.

Gaza: WFP convoy comes under Israeli attack

The UN World Food Programme has reported that one of its aid convoys in Gaza was shot at by Israeli forces on Sunday.

The WFP issued a statement on Monday saying its vehicles had been “clearly marked” and strongly condemned the “horrifying” attack on the humanitarian convoy.

Three vehicles carrying eight staff members came under fire in the vicinity of the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, with at least 16 bullets striking the convoy. Thankfully, no staff members were injured, the agency added.

All necessary clearances had been obtained from the Israeli authorities and WFP said it was “just the latest example of the complex and dangerous working environment” that teams must work in.

Meanwhile, a missile reportedly struck a flour distribution warehouse in central Gaza run by a UN aid partner at the weekend, leaving three humanitarian workers seriously injured.

UN agency teams in the vicinity of a supply depot described hearing people screaming after the strike. They also reported looting and gunfire after Sunday’s blast at the MA’AN Development Center facility, which is affiliated with the WFP.

To date, Israeli bombardment from the air, land and sea continues to be reported across the Gaza Strip, with more than 45,300 Palestinians killed and over 107,700 injured, one in five with life-changing injuries, according to the authorities.

First WHO humanitarian air charter of 2025 lands in Syria

To Syria now, where the first UN World Health Organization (WHO) humanitarian air charter of the year has landed in Damascus, carrying more than 32 tons of medicines and emergency kits.

The supplies are part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to meet the “immediate” medical needs of 300,000 people in Syria.

It comes after the UN agency delivered nine tonnes of vital medical supplies to Tabqa and Ar-Raqqa hospitals in northeast Syria before the new year, to boost the international health response.

The supplies included kits for dialysis and to treat non-communicable diseases, in addition to other essential medicines and food.

In the last year, the WHO carried out 47 humanitarian flights to Syria from its logistics hub in Dubai.

Matt Wells, UN News

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