11 September - UN raises new concerns about increasing LRA attacks in Southern Sudan

13 Sep 2009

11 September - UN raises new concerns about increasing LRA attacks in Southern Sudan

(11 September 2009, Juba) The United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Ms. Ameerah Haq, has expressed grave concern about the increasing number of deaths due to the escalating attacks by rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) against civilians - mostly women and children - in Southern Sudan's Western and Central Equatoria States.

The attacks by the LRA rebels within Southern Sudan, and also north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central Africa Republic (CAR), have in recent months caused a marked increase in the numbers of IDPs and refugees in eight out of 10 counties of Western Equatoria State and two of the six counties in Central Equatoria State.

During the last six weeks alone, 11 incidents of LRA attacks have been reported - seven of them in the first week of September alone. The frequency of the attacks and the worsening plight of the population is disturbing.

Since the resurgence of the LRA attacks in mid-December 2008:

  • 68,000 people have been internally displaced;
  • 18,000 refugees have arrived from the DRC and CAR;
  • At least 200 people have been killed and 130 abducted; and
  • Within the last month alone, 11,000 IDPs have been registered in the two states.

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