A joint delegation of UN and government officials have condemned an armed attack on a small community in the Jonglei region of South Sudan in which dozens of people were killed and wounded, children were abducted, and thousands of cattle stolen.

The delegation, which included representatives of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the government, called for calm during a visit to the conflict-ridden region and expressed its condolences to the families of those killed in the incident.

The attack took place last weekend at Kolmerek Village, north of Bor in the Jonglei region of South Sudan - an area renown for cattle-raiding.  During the incident, 29 people were killed, 20 were wounded, four children were abducted and 8500 cattle stolen. More than 70 homes were burnt to the ground and almost 6400 people displaced although many have now returned.

UNMISS is working alongside political and community leaders to support peace efforts in the aftermath of the violence.

“We came to express our condolences and grief to the people. We have also met with the injured. It is a terrible personal and national tragedy that has happened to this community,” said Deborah Schein, Head of the UNMISS Field Office.

“Cattle raiding is a practice that must stop. Child abduction is a practice that cannot continue. It is not acceptable anywhere in the world and we are calling for calm among the people here as we seek peace and reconciliation among the communities.”

UNMISS Human Rights Director Eugene Nindorera said those killed and injured were not involved in the actual attack.

“The majority of those that I have seen were not the kind of people that you would encounter in a conflict. I’m talking about a baby, I’m talking about a grandmother. Some of them have been injured by bullets and others by machetes and knives,” he said. It is really shocking because these people are civilians who are trying to do their work and were attacked and now they are in a very stressful situation. It is deplorable.”

National Legislative Assembly member, Dengtiel Ayuen, is urging young people in the area not to retaliate or take revenge. He said it was important that the respective communities remain calm and protect themselves against the threat of future violence.

The outbreak of violence follows the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement in May between the youth of Dinka Bor and Murle communities in an attempt to restore peace across the Jonglei region. While there have been positive steps taken, there is concern that the current negative sentiment in the area could provide a significant challenge to the full implementation of the peace agreement.

“Some of the community are talking about revenge and retaliation and this, of course, will not bring peace, so it’s really important to try and move on,” said Eugene Nindorera. “However we cannot move on without having also addressed the issue of accountability because this is how we can really stop the cycle of violence by making sure that those who have committed atrocities are held accountable.”

In an effort to support the building of durable peace, UNMISS has deployed Indian and Ethiopian peacekeepers to the area. Sector East Commander, Brigadier General Bra Karanbir Singh said that the troops were taking a robust approach when patrolling to provide protection and a sense of security for the community.

The Commissioner of Bor, Luis Garang, has welcomed the peacekeeping presence and is appealing to humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to those whose properties livelihoods were destroyed.