Eight aid workers killed in southern Sudan

Eight aid workers from a consortium of relief agencies in southern Sudan were killed on Thursday evening by attackers believed to be rebels of the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) told to IRIN on Monday. “The eight were on a joint relief and rehabilitation assessment mission in the area around Magwi, Imoruk and Obbo,” NCA Country Director for south Sudan Kristen Flogstad told IRIN. “They were attacked some 7 km from the NCA camp in Parajok,” he said. They were among 11 members of the mission. “The car was set on fire but preliminary investigations have shown that the attackers used tank missiles, grenades and fired more than 100 shots,” he said. There were between 50-70 attackers moving from Uganda in five columns, including women and children, he added. “They crossed in through the same point LRA rebels have been using for many years and the weapons they used were typical LRA weapons,” Flogstad said. He said there were close to 5,000 displaced people in the area. “Although it would have not been advisable to travel, there must have been a lot of pressure on the aid workers considering the displaced in need,” he said. “It is very tragic for us, and even more for the local community who have lost six of their own.” Flogstad noted that the incident would make it difficult to implement NCA’s plans in Parajok and the Acholi corridor and assist the local population. “This is a setback after an improvement in the security situation last year,” he added. Among the dead were two Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Association (SRRA) workers, one from the African Inland Church (AIC), three from the Episcopal Church of Sudan and two from NCA. Three others were seriously injured.