Members of the Dinka Atuot community yesterday engaged in fierce clashes with the Jur community in the area of Aguran and Wou Wou, Yirol County in Lakes State, and both sides suffered casualties.
Mapuordit parish priest Comboni Missionary Fr. Antoine Kondo told Good News Radio via e-mail that the situation in Mapuordit and surroundings was scary.He added that the fighting started at a cattle camp.
Bro. Rosario Iannetti, the Director of Mapuordit Hospital, said all the four Jur staff escaped from the premises for fear of revenge attacks.
Dr. Ianetti added that he had to perform complex emergency surgery in two seriously wounded youths.
He explained that a number of wounded people from the Jur community were being treated at a secret location to avoid retaliation.
There were rumors that the Jur community planned to attack Mapuordit village but the SPLA deployed in the area and defused the situation.
Fr. Kondo said Mapuordit center was spared from fighting and looting thanks to the soldiers.
Dr. Yanetti said the soldiers were told to protect the hospital and Mapuordit centre but not the surrounding villages.
He added that many hospital staff left the work to protect their families and property in the villages.
A group of Dinka people slept in the mission compound fearing a Jur attack to Mapuordit.