More than 8,000 South Sudanese have fled to Uganda over the past one week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has announced.

Majority of the new arrivals arrived in the neighboring country through informal border points; while others got here through the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement, the UN refugee agency says the refugees reported that the reasons for fleeing to Kampala include extreme violence, extortion and detention, rape and sexual abuse of women and girls, among others.

“We understand some members they are fleeing from militia groups that are attacking villages, burning down houses, and kidnaping young men and boys,” said Charlie Yaxley, the UNHCR Associate External Relations Officer in Uganda.

There are already 400,000 South Sudanese refugees there, according to the UN.