AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Hundreds of displaced South Sudanese stranded at the border with DRC

Tuesday, 12 January 2016 refugees  

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) - Hundreds of South Sudanese have been abounding the capital of Western Equatoria State, Yambio, to take refuge in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where they are deprived of humanitarian assistance, food, medicine...
The mayor of Yambio, Daniel Badagbu, visited the town of Nabiapai on the border between South Sudan and the DRC to meet a large number of displaced people who are stuck along the border.
The presence of several armed groups has increased insecurity in Western Equatoria State, which has so far been relatively spared by the civil war between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. Already in December Yambio had become a ghost town after the flight of the inhabitants because of violent clashes between the army loyal to President Salva Kiir and the local militia (see Fides 10/12/2015).
Local authorities have appealed to the people for their return to the city, claiming that security conditions have improved.
Despite the peace agreement signed last August, clashes and instability persist in several areas of South Sudan.
Since December 2013 to date the civil war has forced 2.3 million people to flee, of whom 650,000 have fled abroad, and 1.65 million are displaced within the country. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/01/2016)


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