The International Committee of the Red Cross says 12 patients have died this week following clashes in Kodok, Upper Nile over the weekend that forced its medical personnel to evacuate the area.

It says 11 others were injured during the fighting.

In a statement, the ICRC says the fighting erupted on Sunday morning while surgical experts were in the middle of critical medical procedures.

One patient was killed on the spot during the incident. The other 11 died in the course of the week, due to inadequate medical attention.

Layal Horanieh, ICRC Media Spokesperson, says a medical team was sent to the facility in Kodok after the fighting, to assess the state of the patients.

“They found 11 injured, and one in-patient who had sadly died as a result of having been caught in the crossfire,” Ms Horanieh said.

“Because of the level of insecurity prevailing currently in Kodok, we have had to evacuate our medical personnel.”

They team includes health officials with surgical capacities and expertise.

The ICRC says a team of eight doctors has been relocated to Juba temporarily, and will be sent back when the situation has calmed.

Ms Layal says the agency may relocate the patients if the situation continues to be violent.