Off the wire
• China issues yellow alert for fog  • 1st LD-Writethru: Chinese shares retreat Friday on global fluctuations  • Across China: Farmer rides on Silk Road economic boom  • EU's Juncker does not feel threatened by Trump  • 2nd LD-Writethru: China's manufacturing sector stays in expansionary territory  • Seven die as truck ploughs into roadside crowd in Southeast Bangladesh  • Southern Thai women warned against illegally working in Malaysia  • Morocco, S. Sudan vow to consolidate strong ties  • Major news items in leading German newspapers  • UN agency urges farmers to keep livestock to tackle climate fluctuations  
You are here: 　 Home

Over 4,000 South Sudanese fleeing daily to Uganda due to violence

Xinhua, February 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

More than 4,000 people are believed to have fled from South Sudan's border town of Kajo Keji in Equatoria region, following renewed violence in mid-January between the warring factions, officials said on Friday.

A local Commissioner of Kajo Keji, Luka Nyombe David told Xinhua by phone that people fleeing for safety across the Ugandan border.

"Generally they are afraid of insecurity due to the presence of rebels (SPLA-in Opposition) in the area," he revealed in an interview. "The situation is really very calm, but they are continuing to go (to Uganda)," he added.

According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesperson in Uganda Charlie Yaxley, over 4,000 South Sudanese arrive on daily basis fleeing violence by armed groups attacking villages, burning down homes, looting, rape of women and girls.

South Sudan has been shattered by civil war that broke out in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. Machar denied the accusation but then mobilized a rebel force.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 led to the formation of a transitional unity government in April, but was again devastated by fresh violence in July, 2016.

Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, with over 2 million displaced and another 4.6 million left severely food insecure, since December 2013. Endit