POLICE | UPDF | REBELS

ARUA - Merry Ileli from Morobu county in South Sudan says suspected rebels have robbed them of all their property, including cattle, goats, chicken, food staff.

Ileli, a mother of seven, adds that the suspected rebels also raped some women and those who rejected their sexual advances were killed.

“Due to the insurgency, our children are not going to school, forcing us to flee the country and coming from Morobu to Arua with my children has taken us one week sometimes we move on empty stomachs and sleep in bushes”, Ileli said.

Ileli is among the over 300 more refugees that arrived in Arua city from neighbouring South Sudan last week.

Solomon Osakan, the refugee desk officer in the West Nile Office of Prime Minister (OPM), said 381 new refugees from South Sudan arrived on Wednesday.

According to Osakan, the refugees fled their country allegedly due to the insecurity caused by fresh clashes between the South Sudanese government army and the rebels.

"On registering them here, they will be taken to Omugo reception site to be quarantined and retested against COVID-19. Those found positive will be taken for treatment, when found negative, they will be taken to any of the two settlements: Imvepi and Rhino camp refugee settlements,’’ Osakan said.

He said, among the items urgently needed, include water as it is dry season, food, classrooms for the schoolchildren, medical services and more funds to run the project.

South Sudanese rebels cited in rape, murder

Ileli, a mother of seven, adds that the suspected rebels also raped some women and those who rejected their sexual advances were killed.

Some of the new Sudanese refugees. (Photo by Patrick Pariyo)

By Robert Adiga and Patrick Pariyo

Journalists @New Vision