[Yambio, South Sudan, TCT] Neighboring country to South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo –DRC has received an influx of more than 7,000 refugees from South Sudanese who are fleeing violence from the state of Western Equatoria due to a conflict caused by the ‘Arrow Boys.’
[Yambio, South Sudan, TCT] Neighboring country to South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo –DRC has received an influx of more than 7,000 refugees from South Sudanese who are fleeing violence from the state of Western Equatoria due to a conflict caused by the ‘Arrow Boys.’
According to sources from Yambio, the arrow boys are members of a local militia sort of a group armed with all forms of weapons including arrow and bows, which they use to fight civilian and government. The group has been operating in that part of the country for more than a year. Their activities have affected the civilian population in western Equatoria, a part of the country, which has also been experiencing harsh violence from the Lord Resistance Army-LRA of the wanted Konyi from Uganda.
The refugees fled to escape death from the additional violence in the country after the major civil strife broke out in December 2013 in South Sudan forcing millions into displacement within the country or outside the country.
A peace deal to end the two-year conflict has been signed last August by the government led by President Salva Kiir and the former rebel group led by Riek Machar.
Speaking to the media at Dungu, border town in DRC, the UNHCR official Ismael Arama Ziama said seven thousand people have crossed South Sudan border to Dungu the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr. Ziama described the town of Dungu in Haut-ele province is situated some 80 kilometers from the South Sudanese frontier. He said, the refugees arrived exhausted and tired.
“They are in needs of services, the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees is registering to settle them in the camps,” he said.
However, the UN Security Council has directed to boost peace efforts in South Sudan by adding more troops and surveillance drones. Additionally, it is reported that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is set to present to the Security Council an action plan to bring peace to the war torn nation of South Sudan by January 15 this year.
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