UN says Tambura violence uprooted 80,000 from their homes

JUBA – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has said that last month’s fighting in Tambura County of Western Equatoria state has displaced at least 80,000.

“Since late June, sub-national violence in Tambura County, Western Equatoria has displaced nearly 80,000 people with reports of civilians killed and wounded. Many of the people displaced have fled to neighboring Western Bahr el Ghazal State,” the OCHA said.

“An estimated 45,000 people have fled to Ezo County, with thousands of others moving to Yambio town, Nagero, Namutina, Wau, Nzara and Mosso. Reports have also been received of people fleeing to the Central African Republic,” it added.

The OCHA said: “There are reports of civilian deaths, with their bodies left to decompose on the outskirts of Tambura, without a proper burial. An increasing number of unaccompanied and separated children are being reported. People’s homes and livelihoods have been destroyed by the recurring violence.”

“The president of South Sudan has formed a high-level committee to investigate the root cause of the Tambura conflict and to seek a solution and end to the violence.”