Thousands of people from the Lou Nuer tribe in Jonglei State, in South Sudan have fled to western Ethiopia to escape violence in their homeland.
Adrian Edwards the UN refugee agency- UNHCR spokesperson says majority of the people streaming into Ethiopia are mostly women, children and the elderly.
The UNHCR spokesperson says those fleeing are escaping fresh fighting with the rival Murle ethnic community.
Cue in: “An estimated 15,000 people have entered Ethiopia since mid-February.
Cue out: … Jonglei before they managed to reach Ethiopia. ///
The Lou Nuer and Murle have been engaged in deadly attacks and counter attacks over cattle, grazing land and water for several years, according to UNHCR.
Fighting between the two communities in December and January, affected approximately 120,000 people in the Jonglei region of South Sudan.
Meanwhile, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan has launched the process of civilian disarmament in Jonglei State.
The UN Mission to South Sudan –UNMISS says it supports the principle of collecting weapons held illegally within communities, explaining that without addressing this issue, the cycle of violence in Jonglei will never end.
