Sudan Fighting Forcing Thousands to Flee to Uganda

In the decree read on the state owned television, South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation (SSBC), Dr. Riek Machar Teny was replaced following his failure to return to the country after President Kiir issued an appeal for him to return within 48 hrs.

Machar has refused to come back to Juba until the deployment of a neutral force of African troops – a plan approved by the African Union but rejected by Kiir.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers ride on their armored personnel carrier (APC) enroute to evacuate their citizens following recent fighting in Juba at Nimule town along the South Sudan and Uganda border, July 14, 2016.

Those who fled were from South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria region, as well as from the capital, Juba, and the last week has seen the greatest surges.

Just three months ago, Riek Machar was sworn in as first Vice President.

After two and a half years of civil war, the two parties finally formed a transitional government of national unity on April 29 this year, but implementation of the security arrangement has been problematic with the presence of two armies leading to the July 7 clashes.

“The influx is putting serious strain on the capacity of collection points, and transit and reception centers, which are too small for the growing number of arrivals”, UNHCR said in a statement received in Juba. During the course of the weekend, humanitarian organizations worked to decongest the collection points and installed temporary shelters to increase capacities. The majority of arrivals – more than 90 per cent – are women and children. “UNHCR has deployed additional staff, trucks and buses to assist”, it said.

It used the example of Elegu, northern Uganda, where more than 11,000 refugees were at one point staying in a shelter designed for 1,000.

“The new arrivals in Uganda are reporting ongoing fighting as well as looting by armed militias, burning down of homes and murders of civilians”, Edwards said.

“It is a matter that worries us a lot”, she said. Numerous refugees have been moved to the Nyumanzi Transit Centre, while others have been taken to expanded reception centres in Pagirinya.

Since the conflict in the African nation began in December 2013, some 1.69 million people have been internally displaced by protracted fighting.