An armed attack on a cattle camp in South Sudan killed 41 people, injured 65, and displaced many. The UN is concerned about escalating violence in the region.

An attack on a camp of cattle herders in South Sudan resulted in the deaths of 41 individuals late last week, a local official reported on Monday. The United Nations expressed concern over the escalating violence in the region.

Clashes between pastoralists and settled farming communities are a frequent occurrence in the southern parts of the world's youngest country.

The incident took place early Friday morning in Nyolo village, located in the southern Eastern Equatoria state. Angok Gordon Kuol, the head of the Bor community, provided this information in a statement.

The attack led to the death of 41 people, including women and children, while 65 others were wounded. Additionally, several individuals remain unaccounted for. The statement described the assault as a "cold-blooded massacre targeting unarmed civilians."

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expressed grave concern over the increasing violence between cattle keepers and farming communities. A statement released on Sunday highlighted the intensifying conflict in the area.

According to the UNMISS, the attack has "reportedly led to retaliatory fighting" in neighboring villages and has caused widespread fear among the public, forcing many to abandon their homes.

In response, the mission confirmed that peacekeepers would be deployed to the affected region.

This is not the first fatal incident in the area. A similar attack in November claimed the lives of 22 people in Central Equatoria, a neighboring state.

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, continues to face significant challenges related to internal violence and conflict.