The White House is strongly condemning Thursday's bombing of a refugee camp in South Sudan by neighboring Sudan as an outrageous act.

A White House spokesman says international humanitarian workers and the United Nations have been working to provide food and shelter to the refugees. He says those responsible for the abhorrent attack on civilians must be held accountable.

The spokesman also criticized Sudan for dropping bombs near the South Sudanese border earlier this week, saying it greatly increases the potential for a direct confrontation. He urges both sides to immediately resume talks on a political settlement.

A local journalist told VOA that planes bombed the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan's Unity state Thursday. A local South Sudanese official says the attack killed 12 people and wounded at least 20. Other reports say there were no casualties. There is no independent confirmation so far that anyone was hurt.

Sudan denies bombing South Sudan's territory.

The two countries have been at odds over several issues since the south became independent in July. South Sudan's President Salva Kiir denies accusations that his country backs rebels fighting the Sudanese government.

He also accuses Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir of planning to invade and retake South Sudan.

Sudan has recognized the south's independence but the sides have yet to resolve issues over borders — especially in the oil-rich Abyei region — and the sharing of oil revenue. The south took over most of Sudan's oil, but but pipelines to the sea run through the north.