The author of this article, a Presbyterian reverend, appeals to neutral nations to intervene by any means necessary to halt ‘mass killing’ and ‘forced starvation’ in part of South Sudan where recent attacks against civilians were reported.
It has been a horrible situation for the civil population in southern part of unity state, especially Leer County. The violence has been almost daily and weekly since the government troops offensive attacks in May up to now.
The violence includes: cattle raiding, killing, gang raping women and girls including underage children, abduction, sex enslaving and forced labor for survivors carrying plundered things or goods to wherever the captors want. Looting, burning villages and destroying the plantations or burning any food items they could not carry, e.g. leaving the calves dying in thousands and shooting dead animals- cows that refuse to go with them.
The community have been left with nothing in terms of livelihood, yet when the international humanitarian, non-governmental organizations such as ICRC, MSF, NRC, and WFP try try to come for rescue – bringing food drops, medical and non-food items, that again invites attacks during airdrop of food, food distribution and looting of food supply.
In October, mass killing of over 80 civilians included 29 children drowned during an attack and gang rapes were reported. UNMISS could not help protect this civil population yet their mandate is to protect the war affected civilians.
IGAD ceasefire monitors reported the violence and UN humanitarian agencies (UNICEF,WFP and FAO) reported that the community of over 30,000 are at the verge of humanitarian catastrophe.
ICRC, MSF and NRC have reported the violence and humanitarian crisis looming, but to no response whatsoever, because the population is in SPLM-IO areas. The community of Leer is part of humanity that cannot be totally destroyed while the able nations just watch because President Kiir of South Sudan and President Museveni of Uganda have decided so.
Up to today, dying is the order of the day in Leer County. Therefore, I am appealing on behalf of the church in this community as an eyewitness of all the happenings to the United Nations, European Union, Troika, AU neutral nations, United States of America and French government to intervene in any way possible including military intervention to save the civil population condemned to: mass killing, forced starvation, lack of medical services, gang raping and abduction because they are in SPLM-IO areas.
Rev. John Rell Bath
PCOSS Leer Perish
Unity State, South Sudan
File photo/Radio Tamazuj: A looted hospital in Leer
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