South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Lou Ariik Community of Tonj North County in Warrap state are demanding the United Nations Mission in South Sudan heeds to their plight and provide security and protection as violence rises among the people.
Ariik Mawien, the Chairperson of the Lou Ariik Community Youth Association in Juba noted a “deeply troubling” situation where members of the same community fight each other fatally.
While the International Committee of the Red Cross has airlifted wounded people for medical care, new cases of deaths and injuries are emerging on a daily basis as conflict surge, Mawien said in a statement issued on Monday.
“We urge the humanitarian community and all peacebuilding agencies to take the ongoing campaign of violence seriously, we call on UNMISS to assume responsibility for the security and protection of innocent lives,” he said.
Several attempts to reach William Wol Mayom, the Warrap State Minister of Information and Communication for further comment on the conflict situation in Tonj North County failed by press time.
Mawien said the “tragic conflict” in Lou Ariik community has resulted in the deaths of 40 people from both sides of the conflict with approximately 100 more suffering from severe gunshot injuries.
He said the ongoing conflict from September 26 has significantly escalated and is showing no signs of cessation without internal or external interventions.
“While saving lives on both sides is of utmost importance, we must note that as we issue this press release, Akook village is under siege from all sides by armed youth campaign aimed at eradicating the family,” Mawien said.