South Sudanese soldiers in Melut prevented Indian peacekeepers from leaving their base to fetch water needed by the peacekeepers and residents of the 'protection site' at the base, according to a report by a news organization in New York.

VICE News obtained a letter by India's UN ambassador Asoke Kumar Mukerji sent to Council members on May 22, reporting, “The letter described the dire state of affairs at a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Melut, a town in Upper Nile.”

Mukerji expressed alarm at the actions of government forces, saying they restricted the movements of Indian peacekeepers at the base.

"Both the troops and the IDPs have run out of water and the SPLA is not allowing the peacekeepers to fetch water from the river," Mukerji wrote, referring to the government Sudan People's Liberation Army.

South Sudan's UN mission did not respond to a request for comment from VICE News on Monday.

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