Staff Evacuated After Heavy Gunfire in Wau Town
June 27, 2016 (WAU, SOUTH SUDAN) – World Concern, a Seattle-based Christian humanitarian organization, has suspended activity and evacuated staff from Wau, South Sudan, after fighting erupted in the city on June 24 and 25.
World Concern operates One Village Transformed™ development programs in communities surrounding Wau, and serves thousands of people through projects that address livelihoods, agriculture, water, sanitation, hygiene, and education.
On June 25, four expat and six national staff were evacuated to a base in another town where World Concern operates, after experiencing sporadic gunfire and heavy artillery in Wau.
“Due to the intensity of the gunfire, we decided to evacuate out of the town,” said World Concern South Sudan Country Director Harun Ringera.
The number of casualties is unknown, but staff report hearing of looting and burning of homes in town, as well as loss of life. According to local news sources, between 10,000 and 35,000 people have fled to surrounding areas, and estimates are circulating of up to 400 people being killed in the recent violence.
“We are praying for those affected and for peace in this region,” said World Concern President Jacinta Tegman.
For interviews with World Concern staff around the world, please contact Cathy Herholdt, Senior Communications Director, at (206) 794-9775 or [email protected].
World Concern is a Christian global relief and development organization. With our supporters, our faith compels us to extend lifesaving help and opportunity to people facing the most profound human challenges of extreme poverty. At World Concern, the solutions we offer, the work we do, creates lasting, sustainable change. Lasting change that provides lasting hope. Our areas of expertise include disaster response, clean water, education, food security, child protection, microfinance and health.
