A bomb uncovered in a forest exploded on Thursday, killing two children and severely injuring five others in Duk Panyang County in Jonglei State, a local official said.
Duk Panyang County Commissioner Jonglei Guol Juach told Radio Tamazuj that the children found the bomb at the Kachtong Payam grazing area while looking after their cattle.
“They found the rocket abandoned in the forest and played with it when their parents sent them to look after cattle,” he said.
The local official said the explosion killed two children and seriously injured five others. Guol pointed out that the wounded children were admitted to the Pajut Primary Healthcare Unit, but without good medical care.
The county commissioner appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to rescue the victims' lives.
Guol also called on families to create awareness among children about the dangers of unexploded ordnance in the county. He offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
Many areas of South Sudan remain littered with grenades and other explosives due to the protracted conflict.