South Sudan civilians suffering in Western Equatoria region: UN report News
South Sudan civilians suffering in Western Equatoria region: UN report

Civilians in the Western Equatoria region of South Sudan are facing extreme human rights abuses, according to a UN report released Thursday.

Between April and August, there were reported attacks against villages and civilians, causing 24,000 people to leave their homes. The UN alleges that these attacks were perpetrated by the pro-Riek Machar Sudan People’s Liberation Army in-Opposition (SPLA-IO (RM)).

During these months of violence, the UN reports that 900 people were abducted, and many are believed to still be held captive. The UN stated that women and girls “as young as 12” who were abducted “were paraded and lined up for commanders to choose as ‘wives’.” If they were not chosen, they were “left for other fighters who subjected them to repeated rapes.” Young men and boys who were abducted “were forced to be fighters or used as porters.”

At least 28 villages were attacked by the SPLA-IO (RM) according to the UN report. “Serious abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law occurred during these attacks, including unlawful killings, abduction, rape, sexual slavery, forced recruitment, and destruction of property.”

The report urges the release of the abducted civilians and calls for accountability for those responsible for these abuses. It also calls for “the reinforcement of existing recovery and resilience programmes to re-establish access to basic services, particularly medical and psychosocial support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and for the provision of economic alternatives for young fighters.”