At least 1000 Yambio residents still fear returning home after violence
At least 1000 people remain displaced in and outside of Yambio town following the clashes which took place at the beginning of the week between SPLA and local armed groups.
Between 1000 and 5000 people are seeking shelter at the ADRA NGO compound in Yambio town next to the United Nations base in the town, according to a statement from UNMISS to Radio Tamazuj.
"According to the Camp Manager of ADRA, about 4,000 individuals stayed at the compound on the night of 10 December," UNMISS said.
This is a significant increase from the 300 people reported to be staying at ADRA earlier in the week.
According to sources, some people have begun returning to their homes and shops are opening in the market, but many people still fear to go home due to occasional gunshots and reports of violence.
Between one and three people were found dead this morning near the Yambio airstrip from gunshot wounds, sources said. The sources said sustained gunfire was heard last night around seven o'clock in the evening.
Meanwhile, women at the ADRA compound are not returning to their homes to collect food or other items due to allegations that soldiers raped three displaced women who had ventured back on Thursday night, the sources said.
"Most of the women are fearing to go back now unless to go back with their husbands," a displaced person at the ADRA compound said.
There are also allegations of looting by unknown armed groups. SPLA soldiers and police continue to patrol Yambio town, according to UNMISS and sources.
Many houses, particularly tukuls, were burned during the clashes in Ikpiro, Hai Napale, Hai Tarawa, and Hai Kuba areas, sources said.
The displaced person at ADRA said UN troops are keeping protection for the people sheltering at the compound but only patrol a few times a day in the town itself.
UNMISS said they have four patrols each day, two in the morning and two in the evening which visit all around the town.
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