The United Nations has revealed that there have been at least 120 cases of sexual violence and rape against civilians in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, since the eruption of violence three weeks ago between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to Riek Machar.
Heavy fighting raged Juba for five days earlier this month, leaving at least 272 people dead and thousands others displaced.
U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan continued to receive “deeply disturbing reports of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, by soldiers in uniform and men in plain clothes against civilians, including minors, around U.N. House and in other areas of Juba.”
Many countries evicted their citizens from the country following the violence while thousands of South Sudanese also fled to neighbouring countries.
37,000 south Sudanese were reported to have crossed into Uganda by earlier this week.
Riek Machar fled the capital with his troops to an unknown location, though reports suggest that he is still within the country.
Salva Kiir went ahead to replace him with Taban Deng Gai following his failure to return to Juba, a move that the UN has taken issue with.
