Zegabi

Armed units, supposedly loyal to Reik Machar, have conducted an attack on another state in South Sudan.

According to the Warrap Police spokesperson Captain Machel Deng Atem, the attackers, clothed in police uniforms, reportedly stormed several cattle farms on Friday.

In the ensuing chaos, officials say there were about 150 rebel and 48 civilian casualties. About 40 other people are reported to have sustained injuries and are reportedly receiving treatment at the Mau Civil Hospital.

The deputy governor of Warrap State, Akech Tong Aleu, has revealed that forces have been deployed to strategic points across the city to form a barricade against any more attacks.

“I would like to tell the government of South Sudan and the international community that the security in Warrap state is now up-to-date and that we have started a youth mobilization to join our defensive army to protect our civilians from rebels’ threat,” he said.

The deputy governor also noted that all the cattles which the rebels had attempted to loot have been recovered.

Officials have since disclosed that the rebels are believed to have attacked from Mayendit, Unity State, with the intention of stealing supplies.

Pundits say given that a similar attack on food storage centers has been recorded in other parts of the nation, it may be plausible to say the rebels are running out of supplies.

Meanwhile, in Unity State, Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says  its workers have had to relocate, along with “dozens” of patients, to a nearby bush over concerns for their safety.

According to Raphael Gorgeu, the head of MSF’s mission in South Sudan, “Despite incredibly challenging circumstances, MSF local staff continued running the hospital in Leer for as long as they could.

“However in the past three days, the situation became too unstable and the only way to provide medical care was to take patients out of the hospital and to flee with the population into the bush.”

Gorgeu disclosed that the Leer Hospital – the only functioning health facility in southern Unity State – has been completely evacuated. He further estimates that over 200,000 people have been left without medical care as a result.

The United Nations says about $3.2 million people are believed to have been deprived of much needed supplies in the world’s youngest nation.

Despite the standing ceasefire agreement, violent clashes have been reported in several South Sudanese states.

According to the rebels, the South Sudanese government is being assisted by mercenaries from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to conduct their illegal raids.

However, Philip Aguer, the South Sudanese army spokesman has refuted these claims as simply lies.

Photo by Finbarr O’reilly/Reuters.