The violence erupted last month in South Sudan’s far north. After clashes that uprooted thousands of people in Upper Nile state.
Juba, South Sudan:
An armed campaign in a region of ethnic conflict-ridden South Sudan has forced 30,000 civilians to flee their homes. The United Nations emergency response agency said Thursday. As international partners demanded an end to the violence.
On December 24, armed men in Jonglei state. An eastern region plagued by gun violence. Attacked communities in the nearby Greater Pibor administrative region. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.
Ethnic violence
The violence erupted last month in South Sudan’s far north after clashes that uprooted thousands of people in Upper Nile state.
“People have suffered . Civilians, especially those most vulnerable – Women, Children, the elderly and the disabled. Are bearing the brunt of this protracted crisis.” Said Sara Besolo Nyanti, UN humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan.
About 5,000 people have sought refuge in the town of Pibor. OCHA said, adding that the humanitarian response has been stretched.
Clashes in the upper Nile state have seen villagers take refuge in swamps to avoid bloodshed. Amid reports of civilians being raped, abducted or killed.
International partners, including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). And the regional IGAD bloc. Said in a joint statement on Thursday that they were, “concerned” by the escalating violence.
They called on South Sudan’s leaders to take action, stressing the need to “investigate. And hold accountable all perpetrators of the conflict. Including instigators and instigators of violence.”
One of the poorest countries on the planet despite having large oil reserves. South Sudan’s leadership has faced fierce criticism for failing its people and fueling violence.
Western powers, including the United States and the European Union. Said this month that South Sudan’s leaders were to blame for the deadly conflict.
Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. The world’s newest nation has lurched from crisis to crisis, including a brutal five-year. Civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir. And his deputy Riek Machar that has left 400,000 people dead.
A peace deal was signed in 2018 but sporadic incidents of violence. Between government and opposition forces continued. While clashes between rival ethnic groups in lawless parts of the country took a terrible toll on civilians.
