South Sudan conflict forces over 4000 people to flee to DRC

Fighting between local factions and the South Sudanese army in the country's Western Equatoria region has forced over 4,000 people to seek refuge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) Dungu Territory, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported Friday.

So far this week, UNHCR teams have registered 3,464 new arrivals in DRC border areas, while 1,206 Congolese refugees, previously in South Sudan, have also fled to the same region because of violence.

According to the UN agency, 90 percent of South Sudanese refugees are women and children. Reports show that some have walked for three days while carrying only their most vital possessions.

UNHCR recorded that most men have stayed behind in South Sudan where fighting erupted between local groups known as the Arrow Boys and South Sudanese armed forces on Nov. 17 despite a peace agreement having been signed in August this year.

Many of the refugees in DRC have voiced their refusal to return to the newly-formed country in the absence of peace, saying their most urgent needs are shelter, food and medical care.

Some 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes since conflict erupted two years ago this month in the African state.

Sources: XINHUA