Infant recovering from gunshot wound in Duk health facility of Jonglei state
?February 5, 2016 (BOR) – A five year old child, Nyaluak Ruei Lam, from Lou Nuer payam of Pamach in Uror county, has now recovered from her gunshot injuries she sustained since December 2015. Nyaluak was shot near Patuenoi in Duk, in an attack in which her mother Nyayual Jok was killed, leaving behind an infant child of less than two months.
“The child is now recovering slowly. I had spent months with her here in Poktap clinic. She is being taken care of by John Dau Foundation (JDF) health workers. I am happy that she is improving,” said Ruei Lam, the father to the Nyaluak.
Ruei further explained the attack that killed his wife and injured his daughter when armed men in military uniform suddenly shot at him and his family members.
“I was following the cattle and the children behind me. Their mother ?at the back. Someone in green uniform stood up and began to fire at me. I dropped down, then immediately ?I ?saw others firing at the children and my wife. The 12 men, all armed came forward and collected the cattle and they left,” Ruei described the incident to Sudan Tribune in Duk on Friday.
Immediately when he reached Poktap, Ruei took the little children to health facility, ran by JDF, they were put under intensive care.
According to the nutritional supervisor, Aleer Chuol, the boy’s weight was monitored as he was introduced to nutrition packages identified as f-100 that is full of protein and calories.
“This orphaned child came to JDF on the brink of death. The child was severely malnourished and dangerously underweight. So JDF will do its best to care for the boy and hopefully God will help protect him and give us resources to help this boy in these critical ten months ahead,” Dhieu Deng Leek, the founder of JDF, told Sudan Tribune in Duk town.
Several other orphans, who were critically malnourished, had been helped by the center and now their situation had improved. Majority had been released.
Members of Murle community have records of involving in cattle theft, raiding and abduction of children in the troubled Jonglei state throughout the years.
However, other armed groups including some elements from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) have been masquerading as Murle cattle raiders and have been involving in such crimes for their own benefits and concealed violent attacks on other communities.
(ST)