Calm returns to Pibor after clashes but residents still living in fear
August 2, 2013 (BOR)-Calm has returned to Pibor after two weeks of fighting in which Lekuangole and Gumuruk Payams were ransacked by Lou Nuer fighters.
But civilians that had fled the violence are still fearful of getting out of places where they are hiding.
An influential member of Pibor Community who did not want to be identified told Sudan Tribune that their villages lost tens of thousands of cattle to Lou Nuer youth who retreated early last week.
The source revealed that Pibour County authorities had sent officials to acertain the number Murle killed and injured in the recent fighting. According to the source, findings of the officials will be out during the course of August.
The source estimated that 300 people, both children and women could have been killed in the villages that make Gumuruk and Lekuangole.
A press release by Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), an international health organisation put the number of those in need of emergency medical care in Pibor County at 100,000 people. MSF said 700 had so far sought medical care in their mobile clinics.
THREE CIVILIANS SHOT
On Friday there were reports that three civilians had been injured in shootings by suspected elements within the South Sudan army, SPLA. The injured were flown to Juba but the conditions under which they were shot remains unclear.
SPLA spokesman, Philip Aguer said the army would investigate the circumstances under which the civilians were shot.
ONE KILLED BY SUSPECTED MURLE RAIDERS
In another development, one person was killed in Bor on Friday by suspected Murle raiders. The dead man has been identified as Kuol Deng Dhuor, from Kolnyang Payam [district], sub clan of Gol in Cueiker. He was shot dead while herding his cattle with others near the army barracks of Panyier at Pariak.
As the villagers mourned Kuol Deng Dhuor, they said he had been shot at close range by two gunmen. The attackers ran away leaving the cattle. The relatives of the dead man pointed an accusing finger at Murle armed men.
A Police officer who visited the scene of the murder said there was no evidence yet to show that the murder was committed by the Murle as suspected by the dead man’s relatives.
(ST)