The opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) said it handed over 23 persons under its protection to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday.

NAS is among other opposition groups who did not sign the revitalized peace deal.

The holdout opposition group, in a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, said the 23 persons came under protection of its troops after allegedly being left behind by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) fleeing NAS counter offensives to SSPDF attacks in different locations in Central Equatoria.

“Due to the vastness of the area coupled with the insecurity situation caused by the ongoing SSPDF military offensives, the NAS command in the area relocated the civilians to safe locations causing the delay to reunite them with their families,” partly reads the statement bearing the name of Suba Samuel, the group’s official spokesperson.

The statement added, “All of them were in good health at the time of the handover”.

The group thanked ICRC for its “patience, cooperation and effective coordination”.

The holdout group reiterated its commitment to abide by international humanitarian law and human rights law that protect human life and dignity of non-combatants.

ICRC could not immediately be reached for comment.