Jonglei: MSF treats victims injured after Pibor clashes
July 18, 2013 (BOR)- The international medical agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says it has treated more than 4,000 people at its clinic in Gumuruk, in South Sudan’s Jonglei state since the beginning of the year.
She further added that MSF-operated clinics in Boma also treated more than 200 patients, with the agency planning to open another clinic south of Pibor in coming days.
Gumuruk is now the only healthcare facility in the county after MSF’s hospital in Pibor town was targeted and destroyed in May.
Prior to the latest clashes, south Jonglei was also the scene of violent conflict between the South Sudanese army (SPLA) and the David Yau Yau armed militia group, which deprived more than 120,000 people from humanitarian aid after they fled into the bush to escape the violent outbreak.
In a related development, the youth leader of the Murle community, Paul Kuakuak, called for urgent access to humanitarian services for Murle people affected by conflict in the state.
“I call upon the international community if they are involved in bringing medical services to the wounded; they should find a place they can treat Murle [people] who are injured in the crisis”, he said in a radio interview.
“We heard that those from UNMISS [The United Nations Mission in South Sudan] and [the] Red Cross brought some wounded people together with the army to Bor. Now where are the Murle? They should find a place where these people can be treated. Those in Red Cross should look for a place where they can treat those people so that they can also get services like the ones who have been brought [for treatment],” he added.
According to the latest information received by Sudan Tribune, members of the Lou Nuer trabe have now started to move back to their areas, driving tens of thousands of cattle confiscated from Murle villages.
Independent sources also confirmed that Murle youth are also taking steps to prevent raiders from passing through their territory with stolen cattle.
The sources said the Murle laid ambushes near Lekuangle, with several armed Murle following behind the Lou Nuer and directing their members on where ambushes should be laid.
The commissioner of Pibor has confirmed that Lou Nuer youth are currently on the move.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Thursday, the commissioner said he did not yet know the number of people killed in the recent spate of fighting.
“I guess the people ran to the south of the county; the areas that were not reached by Lou Nuer. But up to now, we don’t know how many were killed and how many are alive with injuries or without”, he said.
He confirmed that the Nuer youth had not yet fully withdrawn from some areas, including Manybol, as those who sustained injuries during the fighting were still waiting to be flown to Bor for treatment by UN planes.
(ST)