More than 4,000 people displaced by recent unrest in Maridi and Mundri West Counties in Western Equatoria State have crossed into Yambio, according to a report by Radio Miraya.
The UN-run radio station reported yesterday that the displaced people (IDPs) are being registered by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission and are in urgent need of assistance.
Joseph Salvatore Nzaku, the Director for the State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Yambio, says more than 70,000 people were displaced in the fighting, and only a few households have received assistance.
“As we talk we have registered 4,216 as the figure of yesterday. There is no intervention in the aspect of food or NFIs [non-food items] but UNICEF distributed mosquito nets and they have also vaccinated under-fives.”
Thousands fled Maridi last month after fighting that followed a grenade attack on a cattle camp, while in Mundri scores left their homes during clashes between the SPLA and the local population.
Earlier this week a national MP representing Maridi speaking during an interview with Radio Tamazuj accused an SPLA Commando unit of killing civilians and illegally detaining others. He denied the existence of any ‘insurgency’ in the county saying the civilians were simply being victimized.