Everyday life clouded by threat of more fighting

In South Sudan’s Morobo County a few residents are emerging from the bushes where they have been hiding ever since fighting seized the country’s capital, Juba, on Friday evening. Residents returned to their houses to collect whatever they need for survival in their hiding places.

Emmanuel and his family emerged carrying their possessions on their heads and in their hands. Like many others, they are now leaving the town. Emmanuel says he is taking his family back to his remote village, 50 kilometres away, an area he thinks is far from imminent danger of attacks by gunmen.

Other families plan to stay in the bushes, especially at night when tension spikes. Residents say security has plummeted since the conflict broke out, rattling the country’s tentative steps to secure peace. Locals describe uniformed men attacking and ransacking their homes.

I fear for my wife and children.

Like most families, Emmanuel says he wouldn’t risk keeping his family in the area, saying they might not survive. “I fear for my wife and children. They (soldiers) could rape my wife. If they find me, they could forcibly take me as well,” he said.

But he is worried that they will face danger during their journey. He said “roads are for soldiers”, and blames soldiers for halting and taking advantage of the fleeing civilians they are supposed to protect. He stresses that civilians can only safely move silently under the cover of darkness in the bush.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire, announced by President Salva Kiir and his First Vice President Riek Machar on Monday, July 11, appeared to hold, ending clashes between troops which have killed hundreds of people, including civilians, over several days.

The ceasefire gave Mawa John the opportunity to seek treatment for his sick children and to reach his house to cook for first time in three days since they left.

“I brought my children for treatment. I believe they are suffering from malaria. They are all feverish, now. We all have mosquito bites,” he said of their nights spent in the bush during heavy rainfall.

Unfortunately, hospitals and clinics are closed because of the clashes and John says he has to take his family back into hiding without treatment.

Neighbouring towns like Yei, Lainya and Kajo Keji, Morobo town is deserted, and its streets are full of soldiers. Like in many other towns, all public facilities have stopped services given the violence and uncertainty.

Two of John’s children go to Kanyara secondary school, which is as good as closed, although Headmaster Soro Justo Nyeta says he and two of his staff stay under a tree in the nearby bush, to continue to keep the government funded school open, as long as they can.

Soro explains that when the Juba violence started, it caused widespread fear and panic amongst his students.

“They demanded to go back to join their families. All students left (Friday) evening. Unfortunately, I couldn’t manage to keep them around,” he said.