Thousands of residents of Nasser town in Upper Nile State returning home after fleeing recent violence are desperate for food and shelter, a senior local official said.
Nasser County Commissioner Duol Kun Thien told Radio Tamazuj that at least 10,000 residents had returned to the town since last week.
The civilians had sought refuge in the surrounding villages following a violent clash with the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) over the death of a soldier.
“Several houses were destroyed by shelling and vandalizism during the fighting,” Thien said.
“Now residents have started returning. Their population is about 10,000, but they lack food and shelter,” he added.
The county commissioner appealed to aid agencies to intervene.
At least three people were critically injured and 30,000 others were displaced in a conflict that pitted the army against local civilians.
The incident emanated from an accidental shooting of an SSPDF soldier by a civilian on June 20.