Map of Upper Nile State (Photo: Courtesy).

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 8,000 civilians have been displaced in Fashoda County of Upper Nile following fighting between armed groups in the area.

In a press statement on Tuesday, UNOCHA said aid workers have also relocated from Kodok town to UNMISS premises due to the ongoing violence in the area.

The UN agency said fighting on the 8^th and 9^th of October between armed groups in Fashoda County has displaced 8,000 people from Kodok town and other locations.

The attackers, alleged to be armed youth commonly known as the white Army from the neighboring Jonglei State are accused of attacking and burning several villages inlcuding in Padit, Pothow and Bodh between 6 to 9 October.

“On 8 October, suspected White Army youth carried out attacks in Bodh, Pathow, and Nyingari, near Lul in Fashoda Country”, said the report

“In response, people in Fashoda County and the environs mobilized to defend their positions. On 9 October, White Army youth reportedly attacked Nyigier, a village located a few kilometers from Kodok town. As attacks advanced toward Fashoda County, the seat of the Shilluk King, tensions increased”, OCHA reported.

According to UNOCHA, over 18,000 civilians have moved to Malakal POC, since the beginning of the conflict along the Nile River in mid-August.

“Continued fighting between armed groups in Fashoda County, in Upper Nile on 8 and 9 October has displaced an estimated 8,000 people from Kodok town and other locations,” said the UN agency.

According to OCHA, humanitarian staff and thousands of civilians moved from their compounds in Kodok town to the Kodok humanitarian hub, near the UNMISS compound for safety.

“A location near the airstrip was identified for people displaced by the conflict. Registrations of displaced people remains pending until the situation stabilizes and humanitarian teams from Malakal can support.”

The UN humanitarian agency stated that aid agencies are ready to provide initial life-saving assistance to the displaced persons.

However, the statement said the situation is overwhelming and that additional supplies and additional capacity would be needed to respond to the conflict-affected population.

On Monday, the commissioner of Fashoda County said thousands of civilians have fled their homes following Saturday’s attack on the area.

Commissioner Joseph Aban alleged that the attackers are militias loyal to leader of the Kitgwang faction, General Simon Gatwech.

He also said the same armed group have caused insecurity in several villages including Bodh, Nyigir Pabor, Pathow, and Padid.