SOUTH SUDAN: Church Leaders Condemn the bloodshed in WAU
Church Leaders of the South Sudan Council have condemned the ongoing violence in Wau city, north-western of South Sudan and called for an immediate intervention to stop the killings.
In their statement issued on 28 June the leaders said, “after hearing the news of violence in Wau, our hearts are broken and sad; …We cry out for an end to the violence; In the name of God let those with weapons of war stop the violence and killings.”
The leaders also expressed concerns about many innocent people who have been replace from their homes and cramped in church compounds and other UN protection sites.
The leaders were also worried that the little trust which was there has again been broken down. “When will peace reign? When will our people be free again to laugh and trust? For how long must we weep? For how long must we mourn? How much more must our people suffer?” read part of the statement.
The Church leaders asked the Transitional Government of National Unity to immediately bring the violence to a halt and call for all forces to stand down. They urged and called on the people to remain calm. Embrace unity and peace.
The leaders appealed for an open, credible and transparent investigation into the violence to be carried out and for its cause to be clarified and responsible parties held to account.
Meanwhile, Medicines Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that people who fled violence in Wau had gunshot wounds, rape victims and widespread “mental trauma”. According to MSF Deputy Medical Coordinator in Wau, David Kahindi, the people being treated are much sicker than expected because of months of continuous instability in the region.
He said that some patients have fled from the local hospital because they do not feel safe there.
The MSF official expressed worries that thousands of people have been pushed even further away by the fighting and cannot find treatment.
He pledged that MSF will continue working tirelessly to try and reach those people in the coming days.
By AMECEA Online News Reporter
