South Sudan: Incendiary Bombs Kill, Burn Civilians

(Nairobi) – South Sudan’s use of improvised air-dropped incendiary weapons has killed and horrifically burned dozens of people, including children, and destroyed civilian infrastructure in Upper Nile state, Human Rights Watch said today. The government’s use of these weapons in populated areas may amount to war crimes.
Interviewees described the use of improvised incendiary weapons in at least four attacks in Nasir, Longechuk, and Ulang counties, Upper Nile state, which killed at least 58 people and burned others severely. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which has a robust mandate to protect civilians, should establish temporary operating bases in high risk areas, and proactively respond to the deteriorating situation. UN Security Council members should urge South Sudan to cease its unlawful attacks and call for the urgent deployment of peacekeeping forces to the affected areas.