The South Sudan Islamic Council, a faith-based organization, has called for the need to mobilize funds to support those displaced by the conflict in Upper Nile State.

Armed conflict in Upper Nile state has displaced at least 20,000 people since August, according to the United Nations.

The ongoing conflict between armed elements and between rival community-based militias is a continuation of fighting that started on 15 August in the Tonga area of Upper Nile State and has since spread to other parts of the state and areas of Jonglei and Unity states.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Juba on Tuesday, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Council, Dr. Abdallah Baraj, said: “The humanitarian situation in Upper Nile needs our attention and support. The Islamic Council has formed a high-level committee for resource mobilization to support our brothers and sisters who are displaced in Upper Nile State.”

“As the Islamic Council, we don’t have enough resources to support, but we are going to move around and knock at various doors to mobilize resources,” he said. “As the Islamic Council, we are sure we will manage to mobilize resources because we have partners who believe in what we do.”

Baraj pointed out that the Council’s priority is o provide food items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Upper Nile, calling on well-wishers to assist with food items and medicines.

He announced that the Council has donated 2.5 million South Sudanese Pounds to the conflict-affected people in Upper Nile, saying they will buy food items to be delivered to the needy people.