More than 8,000 people have been displaced from areas north of the Abyei Special Administrative Area following a deadly drone attack at Amiet Market that killed more than 220 people, according to local authorities.
The attack occurred on Monday, October 19, at Amiet Market, about 10 kilometres north of Abyei town in the disputed area between South Sudan and Sudan.
The government of South Sudan has attributed the attack to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).
Local authorities reported that 220 people were killed and dozens of others injured. Some victims were reportedly buried in mass graves.
Speaking to Eye Radio on Tuesday, Caretaker Minister of Information and Spokesperson for Abyei, Yohana Akol, said more than 8,000 people had fled the area and sought refuge in Abyei town and surrounding locations.
He appealed to humanitarian organisations and United Nations agencies to provide urgent assistance to the displaced, saying many people were sheltering under trees near Amiet Market and in Abyei town.
The South Sudanese government has condemned the attack and said it had summoned the Sudanese ambassador over the incident.
On Tuesday, residents of the Abyei Administrative Area staged a peaceful protest to condemn the drone strike and call for stronger protection of civilians.
The demonstration brought together community leaders, civil society representatives, youth and women, who expressed concern over the loss of lives and the impact of the attack on civilians.
The protesters also submitted a petition to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), urging the peacekeeping mission to investigate the incident and bring the matter to the attention of the United Nations Security Council.
The post More than 8,000 displaced after deadly drone attack in Abyei first appeared on Eye Radio.