About six women and 18 children who were rescued by SPLA-IO fighters during clashes with government troops in Gabat area in Upper Nile State were on Thursday handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a rebel spokesman said.

In February, the SPLA-IO faction allied former First Vice President Riek Machar announced that they were holding women and children who trapped during clashes in Gabat and Khor areas.

The SPLA-IO military spokesman, Col. William Gatjiath Deng, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the women and the children were handed over to the ICRC on Thursday.

“Those people were handed over to the Red Cross yesterday and they will be reunited with their families. We said that there is no need to hold the children and the women,” said Gatjiath.

Photo: Col. William Gatjiath Deng