The United Nations refugee agency on Thursday condemned the escalating violence in South Sudan’s Equatorial region over the past few weeks, including recent attacks on Lasu settlement, where a young Congolese refugee was killed.
The UNHCR says armed groups have repeatedly entered the settlement in recent days and fired shots, assaulted refugees, looted and destroyed humanitarian goods and property.
The agency said some refugees have already fled the settlement fearing for their lives.
“Fearing for their lives, some 8,000 refugees fled in panic and dispersed in different directions,” UNHCR said in a statement issued in Juba.
It also said that the body of a young Congolese refugee was found by a group of refugee leaders near the settlement which lies just 40 kilometers south of Yei.
UNHCR’s Representative in South Sudan, Ahmed Warsame decried these horrific acts that have caused death, fear and suffering of innocent people.
“We urge all armed parties to respect the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum and refugee settlements and call upon the Government of South Sudan to protect the lives of civilian populations, including refugees,” Warsame said.
