15 Israelis are stuck in war-torn South Sudan.
Fifteen Israelis stuck in war-torn South Sudan
As fifteen Israeli aid workers and business people are said to be stranded in the country embroiled in a bloody civil war, attempts to rescue them have been unsuccessful; 'I dread the thought that some of my friends were hurt or, God forbid, killed,' says Israeli aid worker.
Fifteen Israeli business people and employees belonging to different aid organizations have been caught in South Sudan during its bloody civil war, which has already claimed the lives of hundreds of people since last weekend.
Intense battles have been waged in the country since the weekend between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir Mayardit and those loyal to Vice President Riek Machar. The sound of gunfire and giant explosions has beome commonplace across the capital Juba. The majority of casualties, as of Tuesday morning, were killed on Monday, with over 200 confirmed dead so far. Most Juba residents are staying inside, with thousands fleeing to nearby UN bases to protect themselves.
Some of the Israelis trapped in the country are in Juba, while others are scattered elsewhere. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to evacuate them. However, efforts have been hindered by the fact that Juba's airport has been closed closed.
The South Sudan civil war has claimed over 300 lives so far. (Photo: AFP)
"It's sad that the country, in its sixth year of independence, is deteriorating into a situation of chaos instead of building itself. My heart aches. I don't know what happened to my friends and the local workers for the organization. I dread the thought that some of them were hurt or, God forbid, killed," said A., the head of a delegation on behalf of Israeli aid organization, IsraAID, who is barricaded inside a Juba building. She has been hiding under a bed for five days, with tanks near her home occasional firing shells.
"Right now, we only have (enough) food and water for a week. Not knowing when it will end is causing my friends and me real trauma," A. said, adding, "I remember how we celebrated the South Sudan independence day with dancing, singing, and hugs. Everyone was united. But now there are no celebrations. Juba is under fire. People are yelling and crying. There's no more singing, no dancing, there's only war."
Several hundred other foreign nationals are trapped in South Sudan, and there are ongoing attempts to rescue them. The US has sent special forces to the area, and other countries are contemplating evacuation plans.
The Foreign Ministry has stated that while none of the Israelis in the country seem to be in immediate danger, it is working to rescue them nonetheless, in light of the deteriorating situation. President Mayardit has declared a ceasefire, but as of Tuesday morning, the rebels renewed hostilities.
