UNITED NATIONS, United States, March 11, (APP/AFP) -A high-level board of inquiry will investigate how United Nations peacekeepers responded to an attack at their camp in South Sudan where tens of thousands of civilians were sheltering, a UN spokesman said Friday.
Gunmen in army uniforms stormed the camp in the northeastern town of
Malakal on February 17 and 18, firing on civilians and torching shelters.
At least 25 people were killed and 160 were wounded.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the independent panel will “conduct an in-depth investigation into the UN mission’s response to clashes that broke out” in Malakal.
The UN mission in South Sudan is also reviewing security at the eight
“protection of civilians” sites, he added.
Over 47,700 people live inside the Malakal base, many of whom came from areas where no aid or shelter had been available for months.
It is one of eight UN bases providing a haven since the war in South Sudan began in late 2013. The bases, sheltered around 200,000 people, are protected by razor wire and no weapons are allowed in them.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the attack and warned that attacks on UN peacekeeping bases may constitute a war crime.