JUBA – At least 16,038 civilians displaced from Kajo-Keji County of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State following the July 28 attack by Ugandan troops are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, a local official said.
The fighting, which began 28 July, erupted after the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) allegedly crossed into South Sudan’s territory in Nyainga-Muda village, Kangapo Two Payam, Kajo-Keji County.
The UPDF was accused of attacking a South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) outpost, resulting in the killing of 9 soldiers and mass displacement.
According to a recent humanitarian assessment, the displaced—mainly women, children, and the elderly—are currently sheltering in six internally displaced persons (IDP) sites across Liwolo and Kangapo II Payams. Each site is reportedly hosting up to 7,477 people.
Wani Jackson Mule, Commissioner of Kajo Keji County, described their situation as dire and called for urgent humanitarian assistance.
“We are in desperate need of food, shelter, water, clothing, and medical supplies,” Jackson told Sudans Post in an interview on Thursday.
He said the humanitarian assessment team from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) visited the area on Wednesday to assess the humanitarian crisis.
Jackson said the visit aimed to gather firsthand information on the impact of the clashes, identify urgent humanitarian needs, and evaluate the overall security situation in the affected areas.
“The security situation in the affected areas remains volatile, while diplomatic efforts are ongoing in Juba to de-escalate tensions,” he said.
