Dozens of civilians were killed in violence in the northern part of South Sudan in the past 48 hours, the UN mission there said Sunday.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said it was “alarmed by surging violence in Abiemnom, Ruweng Administrative Area” following reports of the killings Sunday.

Unidentified armed youth attacked Abiemnom county headquarters, located near the border with Sudan, wounding 23 people, UNMISS said in a statement. “The Mission also notes with concern reports indicating that dozens of civilians and some local officials have lost their lives in today’s clashes,” it added.