In this photo taken Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 and released by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), civilians fleeing violence seek refuge at the UNMISS compound in Bor, capital of Jonglei state, in South Sudan. Less than three years after its creation, the world's newest country is beginning to fracture along ethnic lines in violence that has killed hundreds of people and what could come next, some warn, is ethnic cleansing. (AP Photo/UNMISS, Hailemichael Gebrekrstos)
December 20, 2013 - 2:06 AM
The U.N. says 34,000 people in South Sudan are seeking refuge at U.N. bases in three locations across the country.
The U.N.'s humanitarian arm said Friday that 20,000 people are seeking shelter in the capital, Juba, while 14,000 are seeking shelter in Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, the scene of heavy violence this week. Several hundred people are seeking shelter in Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, where South Sudan's oil fields are concentrated.
The U.S. Embassy was flying out a fifth emergency evacuation flight on Friday. A German plane was also scheduled to fly out.
Violence broke out among South Sudan's presidential guard late Sunday night. Fighting spread across the country over the next several days, leading to fears of a civil war between ethnic groups.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013