August 22, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – Renewed intercommunal violence in the country’s Greater Jonglei has killed over 100 people in recent days, according to the international medical group, Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
“After months of bitter inter-communal clashes, fighting has continued to sweep across Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have treated over 100 war-wounded civilians and evacuated dozens for urgent surgery,” said MSF in a statement released on Wednesday.
The statement said the latest wave in violence, which started in early June and ended mid-August, has “left tens of thousands of people displaced in the bush in need of healthcare, as well as food, clean water and sanitation, and basic shelter.”
“Over the course of just one week, between 29 July to the beginning of August, the MSF medical team in Pieri received an influx of 102 war-wounded patients, the youngest just 15-years-old”.
The statement said 11 patients were treated for gunshot wounds at the outpatient emergency response in Pibor re-launched on 11 August. Of the 11, six patients, including two women, two men and two children one aged only 3-years-old, were evacuated for specialized treatment.
Furthermore, 36 patients from Pieri were transferred for emergency surgery to the MSF hospitals in Bentiu and to Juba.
On 23 July, UNMISS head and UN Secretary-General Special Representative, David Shearer said concerned by the continued attacks in Jonglei and called to stop the fighting.
“Parties must immediately stop fighting, pull back, and return to their home areas. Buffer zones need to be established to protect people and enable reconciliation to safely take place,” he said.
“This conflict is not simply intercommunal between ethnic groups. Other political figures are at work. External actors need to stop deliberately stoking the conflict for the sake of local communities,” he further stressed.
