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Ian Worte hasn't added a story.
In 2011, I travelled from Canada to South Sudan to help train researchers to work on a national public opinion survey.
Today, South Sudan is embroiled in civil war.
Lazaro Akoon was one of the researchers I worked with. I've been able to stay in contact with Lazaro because he's been lucky enough to find interent access. Most of the friends I've sent messages to have not responded.
Lazaro lives in the capital, Juba. Shortly after the fighting broke out, gunmen began going house-to-house in his neighbhourhood killing people from his tribe. Lazaro and his two younger brothers, Kimbo Geng and Daniel Majak, managed to escape and have taken shelter at a house near the airport and a UN compound. The place they're staying at is bit safer, but Lazaro said that in reality there is no safe place left in South Sudan.
Some of Lazaro's friends have been shot and killed. One friend was killed because he didn't speak the same language as a gunman he encountered. Other friends have taken shelter at UN camps. Even UN camps aren't safe now though. Rebels have been breaking in and killing people who were sheltered inside.
Those who can afford it have fled the country. The government has closed the roads so the only way to get out at this point is to get on a flight from Juba Airport. Lazaro and his brothers want to get to a UN refugee camp in Uganda but he doesn't have enough money for a plane ticket. Most of the businesses and NGOs have shut down so there are no opportunities to earn money.
If we can raise enough money for visas and a plane tickets, I can wire it to Lazaro via Western Union and he and his brothers might be able to escape. Lazaro has been hearing rumours that the rebel army which recently took control of the city, Bor, is marching south towards Juba.
I'm hoping to get enough money for Lazaro, Kimbo, and Daniel to escape before the rebel army arrives.
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