UN statement on Jonglei violence
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United Nations
OFFICE OF THE RESIDENT AND HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR IN SOUTH SUDAN
Statement attributable to the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator
in South Sudan, Ms. Lise Grande
(Juba, 24 August 2011): The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in
South Sudan, Ms. Lise Grande, has expressed her concern about the
impact of renewed inter-communal violence on the civilian population
in Jonglei State. Clashes have left villages burned, humanitarian
assets looted and hundreds injured or killed.
Following reports of violence in Pieri and surrounding areas in Uror
County, a humanitarian assessment team was dispatched to the area on
22 August. The team, which was made up of UN agencies as well as
frontline NGOs, visited several of the affected areas, confirming more
than 330 buried dead and close to 200 injured in Pieri and Motot
villages. Over 250 unaccompanied minors were also identified.
Local authorities have reported that more than 600 people may have
been killed in these attacks. “It is possible that many more bodies
remain unburied in the bush,” said Ms. Grande. “During yesterday’s
flyover, the assessment team saw two villages that appeared to be
torched to the ground.”
The team estimates that 26,800 individuals have been displaced by the
recent fighting, including 15,000 in the Pieri area and 11,800 in
Mutot, Pulchuol and Karaam Payams. Many more areas have not yet been
reached. Humanitarian partners are working to verify population
movements and assess the needs of people who have fled from their
homes.
Since February this year, a series of clashes between the Lou Nuer and
Murle communities throughout Jonglei State has resulted in the loss of
over 1,000 lives, the displacement of tens of thousands of people and
the abduction of hundreds of women and children, from both
communities.
“Aid agencies are doing everything they can to assist people in need.
It’s unfortunate that the World Food Programme’s warehouse in Pieri,
which contained enough food to feed 2,000 people for one month, was
looted and that a Médecins Sans Frontières supported clinic was
semi-destroyed and a car torched,” said Ms. Grande.
The Humanitarian Coordinator confirmed that health partners had
responded by rapidly evacuating the severely injured and treating
approximately 100 people in a damaged clinic. Already, over 80 people
have been medically evacuated and more will be moved to hospitals in
Juba in the coming days. NGOs and local community health workers are
currently treating 86 people in Motot and Walgak.
***
For further information, contact Carolina Kern, Communications
Specialist in the Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator
in South Sudan ([email protected] / +249 904 215 718).
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