UN: Over 150 sexual violence cases in South Sudan in 12 days

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. officials say more than 150 women and girls have sought treatment in the past 12 days for rape and other acts of sexual violence near Bentiu, the second-largest city in South Sudan.

A joint statement Monday from U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock and the heads of the U.N. children's agency and the U.N. population agency condemned the "abhorrent attacks."

They said "the assailants have been described as armed men, many in uniform."

The three agency chiefs called on authorities in South Sudan "to publicly denounce the attacks and ensure that those responsible for these crimes face justice."

In the first half of 2018, they said some 2,300 cases of gender-based violence were reported to medical groups, the vast majority perpetrated against women and over 20 percent against children.