Calm in Unity state as 28,000 displaced people return home ArticleComments (0)EmailPrintSave
May 26, 2015 (NYAL) – At least 28,000 people who fled their homes last week due to clashes between South Sudan’s warring factions in the oil-rich Unity state have returned. Internally displaced people at a UN camp in Unity state capital Bentiu on 29 October 2014 (ST) The rebel-appointed commissioner for Payinjiar county, John Pout, said Nyalpayam [district] and its surrounded areas were calm.He claimed pro-government forces burnt several homes when they seized the town from from armed opposition, allegations Sudan Tribune could not verify.“Most of their homes were burned down [and] the little food taken. Their life has returned to square one after losing everything, including livestock,” Puot said over satellite phone Tuesday. The rebel official cited lack of proper medication and food shortages as the main challenges facing civilians in the county.“Children and lactating mothers are at high risk of food shortage, they have nothing to feed on [and] depend on water-lily they got from the river and other wild roots,” he said.Most non-governmental organisations that operated in the area evacuated their staff due to the deterioration security in Payinjiar. Poor health services have reportedly made life unbearable for citizens.Puot urged non-governmental organisations that operated in the county to return and continue providing life-saving services to civilians, while assured them of their safety. LEER TOWN VACATED Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) all its stores in Leer, a town north of Payinjiar, were looted after militias allegedly allied to government forces left the area on Saturday.“Livelihoods have been destroyed and several houses burnt to the ground in Leer. Four vehicles and all the furniture in the ICRC compound were looted. The ICRC is now working to re-start its operations in the town,” the organisation said in a statement. Daniel Littlejohn Carrillo, the ICRC officer in charge, said the situation on Leer was “awful”, stressing that there were wounded people left without medical care, food and water, which was life-threatening.According to both ICRC and the United Nations, more than 100, 000 people have been displaced since the fighting reached the heart of Leer town last week. Reports, however, emerged that some of those forced to leave their homes were returning. (ST). -- To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/southsudankob View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/southsudankob/topic-id/message-id For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14ooa1eZiZ7sN%2BmZ_PXvNcadBgsFsU05tQEJ28mbDjb2vPA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
