The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) condemned on Sunday a bloody attack on a World Food Program barge convoy carrying humanitarian aid near Nyariem village in the Upper Nile State in southern Sudan on Friday.

In a statement issued in Khartoum, the UNMIS also reiterated its concerns about the continued inter-ethnic violence in southern Sudan and urged the semi-autonomic Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) to work without delay with the local communities to put an end to the ongoing violence and achieve speedy sustainable reconciliation.

The UNMIS reiterated that "it stands ready within its capacity to assist the local authorities to prevent any further deterioration of the situation, and will provide necessary support to facilitate reconciliation efforts amongst the local communities".

Local media reported that some 400 people were killed or injured as result of fighting between the Sudan's People Liberation Army (SPLA) escort of the convoy and an armed group on Friday.

Source: Xinhua