About 80,000 residents of Greater Mundri in Western have been living in the bushes for the last two months due to insecurity in the area, religious leaders have said.

Clashes have been reported in Mundri East and Mundri West counties over the past few months between the SPLA and an armed group in the area.

The Inter-Faith Council for Peace says women and children are the most affected by the conflict; they have been exposed to diseases and hunger.

“For example, just yesterday [Monday], three pregnant mothers lost their newly born babies at birth,” said the group in a statement.

“We also saw a number of emaciated children: some suffering from malaria as a result of the poor living condition we are told it is the order of the day.”

The statement comes after a four-day visit that ended on Monday to the affected counties.

The council has called for the government and the armed group in the area to make a dialogue to resolve the situation.

It’s also called upon the government and aid agencies to supply food, medicine, and clean water.

The council say the conflict should be resolved peacefully without any further military intervention.