South Sudan: Three thousand take refuge in church

Procession in South Sudan last year

Source: Fides

The UN reports that at least 3,000 people, mostly women and children, have sought shelter in a church. Another 84 persons have taken refuge in a purpose-built UN centre for the protection of civilians.

The civilians fled their homes following the killing of two generals of the Southern Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) on Sunday, 9 April near the city of Wau, in north western South Sudan on the western bank of the Jur River, in Wau County, Wau State.

The generals were Brigadier General Peter Par, in charge of operations in the area and logistics chief, Abraham Bol Chut Dhuol. The high ranking officers were ambushed on the road back to Wau. At least 12 other military acting as escorts were also killed in the attack. In Wau the following day, fighting started and according to the United Nations Organisation, 16 civilians were killed and 10 injured.

For some time Wau has been the scene of fighting between soldier followers of President Salva Kiir and others loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar.