The medical charity MSF has accused the UN Mission in South Sudan for allegedly failing to protect civilians in Unity state.

It says there have been several cases of civilians being murdered, raped, and abducted for many months.

In a statement to the UK based guardian website, the manager of MSF’s activities in Unity state, Pete Buth, says there has been a shocking lack of action from UNMISS to help the situation.

“There has been a complete and utter protection failure on Unmiss’ part in southern Unity,” Mr Buth said.

“There has not been any protection to speak of until now while the violence has been ongoing and there have been thousands of people coming into the [Protection of Civilians] sites in Bentiu from southern Unity – those who manage to flee – and they have been telling their stories.”

He added that thousands of the displaced have been moving from southern Unity to the Protection of civilians’ site in Bentiu.

Mr Buth says people in the area are living fear and sleeping in swamps and rivers.

Efforts to reach the UN mission for comment were unsuccessful.