Rival communities clashes in South Sudan's Lakes state leaves scores dead

Deadly clashes have erupted in South Sudan, leaving scores dead and hospitals overwhelmed with wounded victims. The violence broke out Friday in the Rumbek area of Lake State as rival community groups battled. Government troops and UN peacekeepers struggled to maintain order as the crisis deepened. People fought, people exchanged bullets, people were killed that day. So we don't know surely what brought the problem, why people were really fighting for all that long. But we tried to see the government try to intervene and some soldiers, we don't know if they are from UN or what, but they tried to intervene. After some time, the shooting stopped. UN peacekeepers from Nepal swiftly deployed to protect civilians and secure critical facilities amid the deadly violence. It was a good response by UNMISS and we really thank them for the jobs they have done. because without them going on the ground to evacuate us, it was going to be, they were going to loot our properties. They were going to kill some of our colleagues because we were of different diversity. Some were also sons of this area and you know they are the ones having conflict with them. So UNMISS have really rescued us, otherwise it would have been a big disaster if they have not gone to rescue us. The UN peacekeeping operation has become critical here. another mechanism put in place is the deployment of the security forces you know into the hotspot areas where the issue took place the problem took place there are patrols in towns that are running 24-7 to safeguard the movement of the people and those that are displaced to come back to their respective homes so there is a security team moving day and night in the town and around the periphery of the town. Cattle and grazing disputes alongside revenge killings have fueled repeated violence in Lake State. But the trigger for Friday's deadly clashes remains unclear.