At least 55 civilians killed, scores injured in South Sudan

A series of armed attacks on civilian population in South Sudan's eastern state of Boma early this week have left at least 55 civilians killed, 20 others injured and over 8,000 displaced, a local government official said on Thursday.

John Achon, Boma State Minister of Information told Xinhua that armed men loyal to the rebel group SPLA-IO carried out several raids in the areas of Nanam, Kongor and Lukongole late last week until Tuesday.

Achon said the casualty figures were provided by local officials yesterday after relative calm returned to the area.

"This attack was carried out by rebels of Riek Machar. The attack left 55 people dead and 20 injured and 8,200 people have been displaced to Lukongole county headquarters," Achon told Xinhua by phone.

He said the attack has created volatile humanitarian situation after 60 aid workers were evacuated from the region following the fighting.

The UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS on Saturday said it has observed fresh fighting between government and opposition forces in various locations across the war-torn country including Raga in Lol State, Waat in Jonglei State and Tonga in the northern Upper Nile region.

The Peacekeeping mission urged the South Sudan's warring parties to show restraint and respect civilians and their property during conflict.

South Sudan has been embroiled in more than three years of conflict that has have taken a devastating toll on the people of South Sudan.

According to the UN, the conflict has made the East African nation one of the hostile environments for aid workers to operate as at least 79 aid workers have been killed since the civil war began in 2013.

Last month, gunmen ambushed and killed six aid workers on a road linking the Capital, Juba to Pibor in Boma State last month.

The UN estimates that 1.5 million people have been forced into neighboring countries and another 7.5 million people across the country are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and a localized famine declared in February in parts of northern unity state. Enditem