The commissioner of Yei River County in Central Equatoria State has accused elements of the National Salvation Front (NAS) of abducting refugees and torching a health facility at the Nyori Refugee Settlement Camp in Otogo Payam on Sunday night.
Commissioner Agrey Cyrus Kanyigwa told Radio Tamazuj that a group of NAS rebels attacked the camp which hosts Sudanese and Congolese refugees and set ablaze an ambulance and the health facility which caters for the refugees and host community after looting medicines, belongings, and money.
He also said that a yet-to-be-specified number of young men, ladies, and health workers were rounded up and taken to an unknown location.
“They attacked the camp at around 11:00 pm in the night and looted food and non-food items belonging to the refugees,” Commissioner Kanyigwa said. “They also abducted the health workers, a good number of unknown youth and ladies, and many of them were taken and we don’t know how many were taken. They also burnt the health center and an ambulance.”
He condemned the attack and urged the national, IGAD, and international bodies to investigate the matter.
Kenyi Alex, the head chief for Lasu Payam, urged the abductors to unconditionally release the abductees.
“What has happened is not good because it is against the rights of the civilians and these people are mere civilians, mainly refugees who fled from Congo, the Nuba from Sudan, and the host community. They were all taken and it would be good if these people are released because these civilians don’t have problems with anyone,” Chief Kenyi said.
Efforts to reach the NAS spokesperson, Samuel Suba, for comment were futile.
Lasu Refugee Camp was established in 2006 and hosts about 10,000 Sudanese and Congolese refugees who fled violence in their countries.