Authorities in Samoa are awaiting a report concerning the safety and well-being of 18 police personnel serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan.
Reports of heavy fighting between opposing army factions in the northeastern African country have created unease amongst families of police officers back home in Samoa.
Police Spokesperson, Inspector Maotaoalii Kaioneta Aliisolia, who also previously served with the mission in Sudan, says their technology is more advanced than that of Samoa, so if anything had happened to their officers there would have been contact made.
“We have not received any word from the UN yet and we are still waiting for a report from our officers,” he said.
“However, we believe they are safe because if there were any casualties we would have gotten a report a long time ago,” Aliisolia added.
“Whatever time we get a response from the UN, we will alert the public on their whereabouts,” he said.
Police have confirmed that there are male and female officers who are part of the Samoan contingent in South Sudan.
Most of them are based in the capital Juba.
The BBC reports at least 500 people are now thought to have been killed in South Sudan after soldiers turned on each other in Juba, earlier in July.