The security in Southern Liech is calm despite reports from the UN about attacks over the past few weeks, state government officials have said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says more civilians have been fleeing their homes in Mayendit, Panyijar and Leer due to growing insecurity.

In Leer, OCHA says about 700 displaced people have remained at the UNMISS base, while others have fled further into the swamps following attacks in recent weeks.

It says there were also unconfirmed reports of attacks against civilians in the islands and swamps where civilians were hiding.

However, the Southern Liech Minister of Information Peter Makoth says the situation in the state is now calm and some civilians in leer in particular have returned home.

Mr Makoth says others are still in the POC in leer town, and they only come out during day time.

“The situation is OK right now; there is no problem,” he told Eye Radio.

“It’s calm except that people are hungry; they do not have food to eat. People are running out of medicines and stuffs like that. But security-wise it is OK.”

Meanwhile, the state Minister of Education, Gatluak Pech Dak, says some schools have resumed operations despite the destruction during the conflict.

Mr Pech says the schools are mainly established on emergency basis.

“What I’d like to add on this issue is that two third of the schools have been devastated during this conflict,”  Mr Pech stated, adding that “I request for immediate rehabilitation of the schools”.

However, OCHA says humanitarian partners estimate that some 15,000 people have arrived in southern Mayendit over the past month, seeking refuge.