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WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) – The United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and the European Union expressed concern over the escalation of violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state and urged humanitarian aid, according to a joint statement issued on Friday.
The US A joint statement issued by the State Department said the reports of killings, destruction of property and sexual violence “are appalling and cannot be ignored.”
“We call on all South Sudanese authorities to allow and facilitate safe access and delivery of humanitarian aid to Upper Nile and Jonglei states as well as other conflict areas in the country and to the more than 9.4 million people in need of assistance in South Sudan,” the statement added.
More than 160 civilians have been killed and 20,000 displaced in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state since August amid escalating clashes between armed groups, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday.
Reported by Paul Grant
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