The Catholic Bishop of Rumbek said that the ongoing intertribal clashes in Mapuordit Payam of Yirol West County, Lakes State, need an urgent and impartial intervention.
Bishop Caesar Mazzolari told Good News Radio soon after returning from his fact-finding mission to Mapuordit and the surrounding villages that the situation was “deeply worrying”.The clashes between Dinka Atuot and Jur communities started one week ago, sparkling retaliatory attacks that killed nine people from both communities.
Bishop Mazzolari revealed that rape, destruction of property and burning of houses are among the crimes being committed.
The bishop visited to some of the affected villages in the company of the parish priest of Mapuordit Mission.
He said people were living in permanent fear.
Bishop Mazzolar added that the World Food Program is feeding the internally displaced people from Mvolo.
He said many IDPs are living in pitiful situation either under trees or in makeshift huts made from sorghum stalks, with their belongings around them, reminding him of the years of civil war.
Bishop Mazzolari appealed for urgent impartial intervention from the leadership of the Lakes and Western Equatoria states to control the situation and prevent further clashes.
The clashes around Mapuordit Payam involving Dinka Atuot pastoralists of in Lakes State and Jur farmers of Western Equatoria started on Wednesday, 9 March 2011.