Civilians flee the UN Protection of Civilian Site in Malakal. | Photo: Courtesy

The death toll in the inter-communal fighting at Malakal Protection of Civilians Site in Malakal Upper Nile State has risen to 20, according to humanitarian reports.

Medicines Sans Frontiers said in an interview with Reuters news agency, that the fighting has killed more than 20 people and injured more than 50 others.

Meanwhile, the government of Upper Nile State has called on UNMISS to hand over jurisdiction of the camp to the state police.

Luk Saadallah Deng, the Minister of Information Upper Nile State says this will allow the state to take the responsibility of security in the camp.

“The government in the state of Upper Nile is calling to be handing over the responsibility of the Protection of Civilians site so that it can provide control over the security situation inside the site,” Sadallah said.

Saadallah says the UN Peacekeeping mission does not allow the government police to enter the camp with weapons to breakup criminal activities inside the POC site.

“We are a government and we are able to enter the protection of civilians site with our weapons to control the security situation and arrest criminals according to the United Nations laws.”

Saadallah was speaking after a government delegation visited the camp to evaluate the situation after the 2 days inter-communal fighting.

“This is what we can say and also send our condolences to the family who lost loved ones in these events.”

“We would like to assure the citizens that the government is seeking to calm the situation. We were able to send a force around the camp to provide protection to the other group that disagreed with the group inside to provide them with protection.”

Violence erupted among two displaced communities seeking refuge in the UN administered Protection of Civilians Site following tension among women at a water-point.

Ministry of Information of Upper Nile State says the State Government send force to calm the situation outside the camp.

This is the second violence in the camp in two months.

In May this year, Malakal Police imposed a night curfew and increased patrol efforts to maintain law and order following tensions sparked by deadly clashes.