Fighting intensifies in southern Sudan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.NAIROBI (Reuters) - Fighting between government troops and rebels has intensified in the area of south Sudan where international aid agencies are struggling to avert a hunger crisis, aid agencies and government sources said yesterday.
An offensive by government militias into rebel-held territory in northern Bahr el Ghazal forced aid workers to evacuate relief centres in the area, leaving tens of thousands without urgently-needed food.
"There is heavy fighting in the area," said Ali Sadiq, a spokesman at the Sudanese embassy in Nairobi. "Government troops have launched a counter offensive to retake areas the SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army] took last year."
The World Food Programme, Medicins Sans Frontieres, and World Vision said they have evacuated staff, usually for short periods, from emergency feeding centres several times in the last week because of security alerts.
Government militia forces have been joined by Arab pastoralists in attacks around the government-held garrison towns of Gogrial and Aweil, aid workers said.
Earlier this month, Operation Lifeline Sudan, an umbrella group of UN and non-governmental organisations, said it believed it could avert a looming famine threatening up to 350,000 people in Bahr el Ghazal after the government gave permission for extra aircraft to fly food to rebel- held areas.
But the WFP said yesterday that it has not been able to reach at least 85,000 people in the north of the province because of insecurity.
World Vision staff were evacuated from a feeding centre treating 800 malnourished children last Friday but were able to return the next day. MSF reported evacuations from three relief centres in the area last week.
The SPLA and other rebel factions have been fighting the government in Khartoum for almost 15 years. The rebels want autonomy for the mainly Christian and animist south from the Muslim north.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments