Faith-based leaders in Western Equatoria State returned to the state capital Yambio today after completing a peace mission to the Greater Mundri area.

The 14-person delegation, drawn from different religious denominations and led by Bishop Barani Edward Hiboro of Tombura Yambio Diocese, traveled to Mundri last week to assess the post-conflict situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

UNMISS provided logistical support for the five-day mission, which was also aimed at paving way for dialogue and resolving the conflict between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Arrow Boys which left thousands displaced from their homes.

“People in Mundri are suffering and living in a catastrophic situation in the bushes,” said Bishop Hiboro. “Nobody is in the town and it looks like a ghost town.”

Describing the life of the community in Greater Mundri as “heartbreaking”, the Bishop added that the situation required urgent intervention in order to save lives.

Delegation members said three children died in their presence at a temporary IDP base and a woman’s wounded leg was rotting due to lack to medicine, while others were dying in the bushed from diseases and hunger.

The team noted that although the World Health Organization had sent some medical supplies, these were not enough to cater for the large number of IDPs.

Bishop Hiboro noted, however, that the trip had been a success as the team was able to meet with the SPLA commanders, representatives of the Arrow Boys and IDPs in their different locations.

He revealed that the Arrow Boys had demanded for the withdrawal of SPLA soldiers who were brought from Mvolo as reinforcement to Mundri and who were also being accused of being behind the conflict.

Over 30 individuals from both sides were reported killed since the conflict erupted in Mundri in May and spread to other areas.

In a press statement issued after returning to Yambio, the delegation stressed that the conflict in Mundri should be solved through dialogue and not military intervention, which they said could escalate the situation.

They revealed that they would send a report to both the state and national government so that their findings would be considered during efforts to bring back peace to the state.

Paride Taban, the retired Bishop of Torit who also led a high delegation from Juba to Mundri, urged the Government to intervene “now, not tomorrow” and called on the international non-governmental organizations to bring food, shelter and medicines to save lives.