The International Committee of the Red Cross says that about 100,000 civilians displaced from Leer in southern Unity State suffer from lack of food and health care. Separately, there are reports that the South Sudanese army captured the town.
In a statement today, the Red Cross referred to the “uprooting” of the civilian population from Leer town.
“Prolonged displacement exposes people to suffering. We fear that the situation of some 100,000 people in Leer, who are now hiding in unimaginably difficult conditions, will worsen day by day,” said ICRC delegation chief Franz Rauchenstein.
The town of Leer has reportedly fallen to SPLA forces following an offensive they launched from the Unity State capital, though the South Sudanse army has yet formally announce the capture of the town. SPLA forces also advanced into Unity State from the south.
The Red Cross has called on warring parties not to impede the movement of civilians trying to escape hostilities.
“The ICRC fears the hostilities could sever escape routes used by civilians to flee the area, and we remind all armed actors of the absolute demand under International Humanitarian Law for civilians not to be targeted during warfare,” reads the statement.
Rauchenstein commented, “How many times will South Sudanese civilians be forced to flee a town under attack, knowing that if they don’t their lives will be in danger?”
The Red Cross noted that the displacement of civilians in Leer comes just as the country’s planting period is under way. “The upheaval will no doubt negatively impact residents’ ability to plant food that would be used to feed their families next harvest season,” reads the statement.
File photo: Women in Nyal in southern Unity State, early 2015 (Radio Tamazuj)
UPDATE/CLARIFICATION: A spokesman of ICRC has responded to this article clarifying that ICRC made no statements about which party controls Leer nor accusing any party of conducting a military offensive. Radio Tamazuj is entirely and solely responsible for statements about the army offensive in South Sudan and does not attribute them to ICRC.