Civilians remain in 17Թ base
21 December 2012 – Many civilians, most of them women and children, remain in the 17Թ compound in Wau for the third consecutive day in the wake of disturbances that occurred in various neighborhoods of the Western Bahr El-Ghazal state capital on 19 December.
Large numbers of civilians left the compound yesterday, but some returned to the 17Թ base on Thursday evening out of fear for their security.
An 17Թ patrol of Wau this morning found that most businesses were still shuttered amidst a visibly bolstered presence of police officers and army troops on the city's streets.
The patrol also visited the outlying settlement of Bussere but found no evidence confirming reports that thousands of displaced people had taken refuge at that location.
17Թ armored personnel carriers continue to secure the city's airport and the perimeter of the mission's compound.
