(ANS - Maridi) - The sound of explosions and gunfire can now be heard again in Maridi, a city near the southern border of South Sudan. The first artillery arrived on the evening of Sunday 7 June, and continued to fire at least until Tuesday.  Classes are suspended in the educational centres of the Salesians and other groups of the Salesian Family, so as not to endanger the safety of the students.

The Salesians on the spot report: "On Sunday night at 9.47 p.m. there was a loud explosion followed by gunshots. On Monday morning we had school as usual, and every so often we could hear some sporadic gunfire, coming from the city. At 10.30 we had to suspend classes and ask the pupils to go home. By 11.00 Maridi was under attack. Everybody fled to Rastigi, Civicon and other villages. A good number have fled into the woods.”

Apparently one of the two warring factions in South Sudan came well-armed, but this time the local people came out to defend themselves, most of them with bows and arrows.

"At 12.30, the Bishop called to inquire about us and the Sisters and promised to follow up the situation. By 2.00 p.m. Maridi was no longer the Maridi we knew. Our driver called to tell us that Maridi was under attack. An hour later two people wounded by gunshots got out of the Maridi hospital ambulance (...). We also learned that a member of our parish choir was killed."

The Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco are also present at Maridi.  They too let their girls go home, apart from three or four of them. At present the Sisters are caring well for the sick who are brought to them from Maridi Hospital. On Monday evening some Salesian aspirants went to the dispensary run by the Sisters to give some measure of security to the Sisters and their patients.

On Monday night gunfire could still be heard not far from the Sisters’ house. Yesterday morning the situation seemed calm, but there was no one around and Maridi was deserted.

Published 10/06/2015