The Small Arms Survey says at least 40 people were killed in the attack at the UN camp in Malakal in February, in what it calls an organized campaign.

The finding is almost similar to the outcome of the investigation by representatives of the displaced people in the camp, who said 49 people were killed.

In its Human Security Baseline Assessment, Small Arms Survey says some militias attacked the UN camp with assistance from some of the internally displaced people within the base.

It says about 1,500 shelters of were burned to the ground while whole sections of a particular community and the Darfuris were not destroyed. In addition to more than 40 killed, 90 others were wounded.

Small Arms Survey says this attack was a campaign by a tribal section of the military and political elite of the former Upper Nile State to push away another community to the opposite bank of the Nile.

Representatives of two communities who were at the camp have listed 49 names of people they say were killed in the violence and blamed the UN for failing to protect civilians.

The UN mission in the country says it is still carrying out investigations into the incident, but figures released by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs put the death toll at 25.

“There are various reports. So let’s allow the investigation to take place and process and the work to be carried out, and after that, I’m sure the findings will be clear,” said Shantal Persuad, UNMISS acting spokesperson.

However, the Small Arms Survey says the UN has not made public the result of interviews with witnesses because of fear that it may worsen its relationship with the state administration.

The government said it was carrying out investigations into the incident, but the findings are yet to be announced.