At least 15,000 people have fled South Sudan to neighboring Ethiopia since last month, as ethnic fighting in the volatile Jonglei State worsens, the United Nations said on Tuesday according to dpa. Most of those who fled are from the Lou Nuer ethnic group, which is fighting with the Murle tribe. In December and January, hundreds of Murle were killed by Lou Nuer gunmen, the UN said. Tens of thousands had to flee their homes in Jonglei, the most populous state in the newly independent country. The Lou Nuer have come under attack in recent weeks. According to the UN agency for refugees (UNHCR) many of the new arrivals in Ethiopia spent weeks in the bush before crossing the border to safety.
