UNMISS Step up Engagement Following Upsurge in Conflict Around Leer, South Sudan

Since January, people in communities around Leer, in South Sudan's Unity State, have been caught up in a spiraling conflict, leading to loss of lives, displacement, and a dire humanitarian situation. Numerous villages south of Leer town have been looted and burnt. Adok port, the second-largest economic hub in the state, is reportedly destroyed, and violence against women is said to be rising. This latest spate of violent attacks resulted in an estimated 1,000 displaced families seeking refuge at the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) training center in Muon, a location around 17 kilometers from the main town. Peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have stepped up patrols and are engaging with communities to restore calm and stability.