Civilian casualties in South Sudan are increasing amid ongoing army-militia conflicts. Reports of airstrikes have led to deaths and significant injuries among civilians. Humanitarian conditions are worsening, with UN warnings of possible civil war. The fighting has drawn in Ugandan forces and led to legal challenges over deportees from the U.S.
Civilian casualties are on the rise in South Sudan, as clashes between the army and local militias escalate. In the small town of Akobo, Wiyuach Makuach remembered her harrowing experience during an airstrike while visiting her son in a hospital in Fangak. “Everything was on fire,” she said, recalling the attack that took her arm and left her traumatized. That incident, which occurred on May 3, resulted in seven deaths at the hospital, including several patients at the Doctors Without Borders facility.
At 60 years old, Makuach is emblematic of the suffering caused by the violent conflict engulfing the nation. Aid organizations report that many civilians have been killed or injured in recent airstrikes as the South Sudanese army battles various militia groups. The military claims to be targeting only combatants, but has not addressed the reports of civilian deaths. Gatkuoth Wie, a 24-year-old wounded fighter, reflected, “The army displaced us and our families into the bush,” motivating them to retaliate.
The United Nations has issued warnings that South Sudan is teetering on the brink of civil war, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Complicating matters, the U.S. is looking to deport serious offenders from their shores to South Sudan, a legal move now under review by the Supreme Court.
In Akobo, the International Committee for the Red Cross has set up a temporary surgical unit due to the influx of wounded civilians. Transporting critically injured patients has proven challenging, according to Doctor Bjarte Andersen, who is working on-site. There’s already been at least one fatality while waiting for transport, and more might not survive the journey.
The staff also noted a shift in patient demographics. There are now more women and children among the victims. One serious case is Kuaynin Bol, a 15-year-old who suffered massive injuries while asleep at home, requiring multiple surgeries.
The unrest escalated earlier this year when the White Army militia attacked a military barracks in Nasir, leading to a harsh government crackdown. Since then, Ugandan forces have joined the fray to assist the military’s advancements against opposition factions and local militias, particularly in Upper Nile State.
The government has been accused of using improvised incendiary weapons during its offensive, reportedly killing at least 58 people, including children. The fighting’s reach extended to northern Jonglei State, with claims of hijacked vessels prompting additional unrest in Fangak.
Local leaders report at least 25 civilian deaths in May alone amid the fighting, but the actual number could be much higher since many incidents occur in remote areas inaccessible by medical personnel. One attack on May 15 in Wichmon allegedly resulted in 12 fatalities, including eight children. Confirming such statistics is difficult, as independent verification remains elusive.
The army hasn’t claimed responsibility for the strikes, and spokesman General Lul Ruai Koang has refrained from commenting on military operations. The continuous violence adds to the toll on civilians, who are already facing multiple ongoing humanitarian crises.
Recent conflicts have primarily played out in Greater Upper Nile, where extreme weather, disease, and widespread hunger have compounded the hardships faced by residents. Fangak local William Nyuon articulated the fears of many, stating, “The people here are moving all the time, just during the night. They fear the plane will come and bomb them again.”
The situation in South Sudan continues to spiral as civilian casualties mount amid intensified fighting between the army and local militias. Many innocent men, women, and children are caught in the crossfire, with reports of airstrikes contributing to the death toll. With humanitarian conditions deteriorating and a potential return to civil war looming, the international community faces an urgent need to respond and alleviate the suffering of those affected.
Original Source: www.ivpressonline.com
