Nine returnees, including six children and three women, suffered serious burns when a girl was trying to light a stove in a barge on route to Juba.
Gabriel Deng Malwal, an official from the voluntary repatriation program, told CRN News that a girl was refilling a kerosene stove and she was distracted when SPLA soldiers started shouting at the returnees on the barge calling them Arabs.She set the stove aflame when she stroke a match.
The barges were detained in Fanjak by soldiers demanding taxes.
Mr Deng added that a woman kicked the stove but the gas spilled on people nearby and burned them.
Mr Deng added that the victims in more serious condition are now receiving treatment at Juba Teaching Hospital.
Pina Magas Hundera suffered a burn on her left hand and the whole of forearm up to the elbow join.
She said a woman bought benzene in Malakal thinking it was paraffin, so when she wanted to light the stove, it caught the fire and out of fear she spilled the benzene on them.
Ms Magas added the victims were taken to Bor Hospital where they were treated well.