Civilians displaced by the fighting at Malakal POC site. | Photo: Courtesy

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan released a statement Sunday strongly advising internally displaced persons at Malakal POCs against smuggling firearms into the camp after deadly violence on Thursday.

Two days of intercommunal fighting in the displacement camp killed at least 20 people, according to humanitarian reports.

The clashes between two ethnic communities living in the camp in Upper Nile State’s capital, Malakal, first erupted on Thursday June 8 when a man was stabbed to death.

In a press release published on its website, UNMISS said it has restored security and increased the presence of peacekeepers among the affected civilians, but said the situation is still volatile.

It expresses “deep regret” for the loss of lives and said it offers condolences to affected families in the Malakal PoC site.

“The Mission is urging national and community leaders to discourage the smuggling of arms into the site. Leaders should also exert efforts towards preventing revenge killings and hateful narratives,” the peacekeeping body said.

It commended Upper Nile State government and the national army for their “close collaboration in restoring calm, ensuring security, and protecting civilians displaced outside the site.”

It further urges community leaders to continue to cooperate with all stakeholders to address both the triggers and the root causes of this violence.

The Mission said despite the situation, it does not “promote the separation of communities, nor does it advocate for any group to leave the PoC site.”

It rather suggests that community leaders must continue to play an important role in promoting peaceful co-existence and social cohesion in the PoC site.