NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: South Sudanese-born Emmanuel Jal posted two important items with footage at his Facebook account today.
The posts are about Pugnido refugee camp in Ethiopia where many South Sudanese Nuer refugees currently reside: Nuer refugees were targeted and attacked by Anyuak gunmen, at least one young child refugee was shot dead. The footage, taken last week, shows terrified men, women and children running for their lives. The camp has been under attack by Anyuak gunmen.
Emmanuel says 70% of Nuer in South Sudan are internally or externally displaced or in refugee camps such as Pugnido Camp in Gambella region of Ethiopia. They were living in South Sudan's most fertile land full of riches and oil: Upper Nile, Unity State and Jonglei. Clearly, they were forced to flee to make way for newcomers and mining. Who are the evildoers? Why don't Sudanese have land rights or legal rights? We're not living in the Stone Age.
The South Sudanese people who fled as refugees to Ethiopia are resented by many Ethiopians. South Sudanese currently living in refugee camps or elsewhere in Ethiopia who want to return home to South Sudan should be supported by the AU, AUPSC, UN and any others who rake in billions from the world's taxpayers to help the most needy and vulnerable people and children in countries such as Sudan and South Sudan.
Here are the two posts [each with same footage, beige highlighting is mine].
From the Facebook account of Emmanuel Jal
Posted Wed 16 Aug 2023 with footage of Nuer fleeing gunmen
Shared with Public
These are refugee children under attack in Pinyudo camp in Ethiopia it’s a shame to see armed attacks attacked on women and refugees: #These are Nuer children they speak the same language as me and I hear what terror that they are experiencing. It’s happening in a place called pegnido in Gambella region. This happened last week. Let’s pray that things stabilize 70% of Nuer are internally displaced or in the regugee camp. They come from the most fertilize land of South Sudan with minerals and alot of oil. Upper Nile, Unity state and Jonglei.@guaafrica @chooselove @igniting_change @angelicafuentes63a @chudierjj2023 @amnesty
View original: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=833381155071232
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Emmanuel Jal shared the second half of this post from Chudier Jiing Kuol Facebook account
Posted Wed 16 Aug 2023
Shared with Public
These children are refugees the camp and they are under attack because they are Nuer. The UN is doing nothing and government. it’s look like there is organized systematic ethnic cleansing of Nuer people 70 % of them leaves in the refugeee camp internally displaced or externally.
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From Chudier Jiing Kuol Facebook account
Dated 09 Aug 2023
Shared with Public
PINGADU REFUGEE CAMP IS UNDER ATTACK FROM ANYUAK GUN MEN:
A young girl child calling out for her little sister, Nyakong who seemed to have been shot dead by the attackers while fleeing for her life. The camp is under heavy attack from Anyuak gun men as men, women and children (refugees) flee for their lives.
As always, I call on Refugees & Returnees Service - RRS, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR Ethiopia and FDRE government to strengthen refugee protection in Ethiopia particularly Gambella Region. I have to assure you that Gambella Regional State Government is working absolutely against 1951 Refugee Convention.
The only crime these refugees committed is their IDENTITY.
This is outrageous act of violence with IMPUNITY.
Ethiopian Human Rights Commission
Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation
View original here
and here:
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Further reading
Article from ReliefWeb - excerpt:
Ethiopia: Camp Profile Gambella - Pugnido Refugee Camp (May 2020)
The Gambela Region has, since May 2023, faced insecurity due to ethnic based violence, reportedly leading to several casualties in Gambela town and displacing at least a reported 11,700(6) people in Itang Woreda and other affected areas as of 31 July. Needs for the displaced are assumed to include emergency shelter and non-food items, nutrition supplies for children
View original: https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/ethiopia-camp-profile-gambella-pugnido-refugee-camp-may-2020
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Situation Report from ReliefWeb
[Ends]
