(March. 3, 2014) In Jonglei, authorities are working on restoring life to normal as civilians return to the town.
A team of officials visited Bor town yesterday to assess the humanitarian situation.
The visiting team included the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Toby Lanzer and the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland (YAN EGELAND).
The delegation met with State officials and visited areas that were affected by the fighting. Several thousand people fled to Awerial in Lakes State for safety after the fighting broke out in Jonglei. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Lanzer noted civilians are beginning to return to the town
“We listened attentively to the people who fled to Awerial County but we are also pleasantly surprised that we are seeing civilians on the streets of Bor”.
At least 550 bodies have been buried in 3 mass graves in Bor town, in a cleanup operation conducted by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission with support from the Red Cross. Security wise, the acting Governor of Jonglei, Akila Maluoth Mam confirms Bor town is in the hands of the SPLA but says the security situation in some counties is still not clear.
“Actually we have got about 4 counties which are under the government i.e Bor County, Twic East, Duk, Pigi and Pibor. But the rest we do not know because we have no connection with them there are no contacts so we are not sure what is happening there – we don’t have reports”.
The Director of the State Relief and Rehabilitation commission, Gabriel Deng Ajak this week told Radio Miraya an estimated 40-thousand people have returned to Bor