The local authorities have decried the dire humanitarian situation in parts of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area’s (GPAA) Gumuruk County following the recent deadly inter-communal clashes there.
On 13 December, armed youth suspected to have come from Jonglei State attacked their Murle neighbors in GPAA killing 15 people injuring 9 others, and making off with 15,000 head of cattle.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Jacob Werchum Jouk, the GPAA information minister, said calm was being restored in the affected areas amidst a dire humanitarian situation.
“Following the 13 December attack on Nyalima and Kibali, our delegation led by the chief administrator spent three days of the Christmas holidays in Gumuruk to preach peace to our people,” he said. “In our assessment, we found that 15 people were killed in the deadly fighting, 9 injured, and 15 women and children were abducted, while 15,000 cattle were raided.
Werchum said an estimated 15,000 civilians were also displaced and their situation is now dire.
“The chief administrator, Gola Boyoi, has encouraged those affected to return home. 15,000 people were displaced and they are now beginning to resettle,” he said. “The challenge is that their livelihoods were destroyed and now lack food and medical services.”
Minister Werchum earnestly pleaded with humanitarian agencies to intervene with aid and to assist in the resettlement of the affected masses.