At least three women were killed in an attack by unknown assailants along the Torit-Loronyo area in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state earlier this week, several eyewitnesses said Thursday.
The sources told Radio Tamazuj the incident took place when they were heading to Torit to buy sorghum and other food items. They said the women were intercepted and stabbed to death.
“There are about three women. They were killed by criminals, they were also looted because they were carrying sorghum, the government went but nobody was found therem,” said one of citizens.
The citizens also reported poor living conditions due to a failing agricultural season this year, while attributing surging crime rates to hunger in Torit County.
Torit County Commissioner Jerman Charles denied knowledge about the incident. However, he confirmed the poor living conditions caused by soaring prices of essential commodities at the market.
“Honestly, this year the situation is very difficult due to little rains last year, so all essential commodities are not available in the market now,” he said.
The local official blamed the Bank of South Sudan for floating the local currency one month ago. He called on the national government in Juba and international NGOs to intervene by providing humanitarian aid to the needy people in the area.