UNHCR: Growing insecurity in South Sudan forces new displacement

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on Friday that localised fighting between armed groups and government soldiers in the South Sudanese state of Western Equatoria is spurring new displacement in and from the African country.

According to the agency, sporadic gunfire is commonplace while a breakdown in the rule of law is further compounding an increasingly volatile situation in and near Yambio, a city located some 300 kilometres from the South Sudanese capital Juba.

UN estimates 15,000 people have been displaced in Western Equatoria's Yambia and Tambura counties since the start of December.

Worsening violence is also forcing people to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring Uganda where 500 refugees have been arriving every day since the beginning of the week.

This follows last month's fighting in Western Equatoria which had already displaced more than 4,000 people into a remote region of north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Reports suggest that as well as the violence, food insecurity due to failed crops is also driving people to flee their homes.

Source: XINHUA