By Okech Francis
JUBA
More than 50,000 people are in need of assistance in Malakal, the once vibrant capital of South Sudan's Upper Nile State, amid intermitted fighting between government troops and rebels loyal to sacked vice president Riek Machar.
"On Monday, there was serious fighting in Uwejo. On Tuesday, they again attacked Sudan People's Liberation Army bases in Panyikang, but they were repulsed," Upper Nile State Information Minister Philip Jaben told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.
"Civilians in those areas first escaped to Lelu," Jaben said. "People have arrived in Malakal. With those in the hospital and the UN compound, we have about 50,000."
The official added that people from the area of Wau Shilluk, the scene of several attacks over the last week, had also fled to Malakal.
"Malakal has a lot of people now, and we as the government are working hard to bring in commodities from the Renk area and the northern part of Upper Nile," he asserted.
"The market here was completely destroyed in the fighting," noted the minister. "Distribution of relief is going on."
"The World Food Program is also assisting," he added. "Commodities are coming into the town, but they're still not enough for the people."
Lino Amol, a member of the Chollo people, said the fighting had displaced some 3,000 people in the Turugwang area.
"We haven't registered any civilian deaths, but about 3,000 people living in Turugwang have run off," he said.
According to Amol, both sides have suffered casualties, although he declined to give details in this regard.
Dead bodies, he said, were still being recovered and buried in Malakal following the recent violence.
"In Malakal, security is becoming good," Amol said. "The Red Cross and other NGOs are also collecting bodies of people killed in the town and burying them."
The strategic, oil-rich town has changed hands several times since the conflict began last December, when President Salva Kiir accused Machar of standing behind a failed coup attempt against his regime.
Many of the town's buildings have since been destroyed and many government facilities vandalized. Its main marketplace – along with numerous shops, offices and banks – has also been ransacked.
Many people have been killed, both in the town and on its outskirts, while numerous others have been displaced, taking refuge in UN compounds, hospitals and churches, both in the town and in other states.
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