500 Killed, 20,000 Displaced in South Sudan Conflict

More than 20,000 people take refuge in U.N. compound in Juba

Since its independence in 2011, ethnic fighting has plagued the landlocked South Sudan, one of the poorest and least developed countries in Africa.

Thousands of civilians continue to pour into a shelter at the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) compound on the outskirts of the capital Juba, December 17, 2013.  Source: UN News Center

The United Nations says it has received reports from South Sudan that up to 500 people had been killed and about 800 others wounded in the latest round of violence, and the government said it had arrested 10 politicians in connection with a “foiled coup.”

“Two hospitals have recorded between 400 and 500 dead and [up to] 800 wounded,” a diplomat in New York said on condition of anonymity, citing an estimate United Nations peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous gave during a closed-door briefing for the 15-member body, said a report.