Nasir Town Under Siege: Civilians Flee as Government Forces Launch Devastating Attacks, UNMISS Staff Among Injured

Nasir County has been rocked by a series of premeditated attacks by the South Sudanese People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) against civilians, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in their wake.

According to eyewitnesses and government officials, the assault began on February 14th at 2:00 PM, when ground forces, military tanks, and artillery were deployed against the town’s market and surrounding areas while County authorities, Youth leaders, and community leaders were in a meeting with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) within the town.

The first attack lasted for three hours, leaving a devastating impact on the civilian population. A subsequent attack between 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM resulted in injuries to 10 civilians, including 7 men, 2 women, and 1 Rwandan UNMISS staff member. The wounded were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

In a further escalation of the violence, a third wave of shellings targeted the location of fleeing civilians at 10:00 PM on February 14th. Just hours later, at 6:00 AM on February 15th, a belligerent shelling aimed at the hospital where the injured civilians were receiving treatment.

“We are calling on the National and State governments, along with international peace observers, to intervene and put an end to these senseless attacks,” Hon. James Gatluak, Commissioner of Nasir County, urged in a statement, “The people of Nasir County are in dire need of multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance to prevent the collapse of their livelihoods and to save the lives of the vulnerable.”

The escalating violence has left the population of Nasir County living in fear for their lives, with many forced to flee their homes in search of safety.

The international community is urged to take immediate action to prevent further bloodshed and support the people of Nasir County in their time of need.