Women abducted in S.Sudan freed, hundreds remain: UN

ANKARA (AA) - Out of an estimated 686 women and children abducted over brutal inter-communal fighting in South Sudan last year, 58 have been reunited with their families through community-led peace talks, a UN official has announced.

“The UN Mission believes that as many as 686 women and children were abducted during the clashes that took place between January and August of last year,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at a regular daily briefing on Monday.

“Tragically, these abductions often involve sexual violence,” he said.

While the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has been working with agencies, supported by the US and UK, to mediate among South Sudan’s Lou Nuer, Murle, and Dinka Bor ethnic groups, the UN release said “the exchange came about following a community-led peace, negotiated in Jonglei State between the three communities. “

Following a recent peace conference in the Jonglei state’s Pieri, where South Sudanese traditional leaders, women as well as the so-called “cattle camp” leaders held talks, the UNMISS announced that UN helicopters had assisted to transport the released women and children to return to their families, according to the UN’s news website.

“Those abducted and freed, are receiving support from Save the Children, and local NGOs Grassroots Empowerment and Development Organization (GREDO) and the Community Action Organization (CAO),” read the UN’s news release.

“We are supporting efforts for the return of the remaining women and children,” Dujarric said.