South Sudan: 3000 Flee to Uganda

The United Nations has said that around 3000 people have fled from the South Sudan town of Pajok to neighbouring Uganda.

The UN confirmed that the people fled the troubled country after fighting broke out in the town Pajok, in the eastern part of the country.

The South Sudan government and the opposition have been engaged in a civil war for years. Despite a recent ceasefire being called, forces on both sides continue to fight each other, with the government forces enforcing extreme violence.

The fighting in the small town was one of the most violent in recent times, according to witnesses.

Lam Paul Gabriel, an opposition spokesperson, said that government forces attacked Pajok on Monday and went on a violent rampage through the town.

He said that the government forces plumaged the town, burnt down houses, raped civilians and even held public executions.

However, a spokesperson for the South Sudan military denied these claims made by the opposition.

Military spokesperson, Santo Domic Chol, said that soldiers only intervened because of looting. He also said that it was ‘bandits’ that killed civilians.

The recent uproar in violence has already sent 3000 people fleeing to Uganda, and the UN believes that number will increase significantly over the next few days and weeks.

Katherine Weinright, of the UN refugee agency, told the media that there has been a significant influx of refugees in the Lamwo district of Uganda which is close to the border between the two countries.

Since the start of the civil war in South Sudan, more than 800 000 people have fled to Uganda.