South Sudan evacuates students from war ravaged areas in Ethiopia

By Tapeng Michael Ohure

Response to the plight of civilians caught up in crisis has never been a take for the government of South Sudan.

This time around though, with fighting raging in parts of Ethiopia, South Sudan’s Embassy there suddenly announced it would pull out students behind the front lines.

South Sudan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, James Morgan said in a statement that at least 59 South Sudanese students studying under government scholarship in Amhara region were to be evacuated to Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa by October 10.

According to Ambassador Morgan, the crisis posed a danger to their lives.

The affected students were mainly from Bahir Dar and Gondar universities.

A student of Wollega University situated in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa who identified himself only as Michael confirmed the evacuation of students was undertaken.

“I think the government of South Sudan has responded positively by providing airlines to transport students from the affected warzones,” Michael confirmed to Juba Echo be text message.

All schools across Ethiopia remain closed and most South Sudanese students studying in the universities located in the Amhara region were left stranded after schools were closed.

More than 7,000 schools have been damaged as a result of the expanding conflict in Ethiopia, with 1.42 million students unable to attend classes in the war-torn region of Tigray.

Michael said his colleagues are now in Addis Ababa awaiting flight to South Sudan.