125 women and girls whipped, raped, clubbed in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan — One hundred and twentyfive women and girls have been raped, whipped and clubbed in attacks so shocking that some aid workers in South Sudan say they are left speechless.

Doctors Without Borders on Saturday said the “dramatic increase” in sexual violence occurred over 10 days, between Nov. 19 and Thursday, as the women and girls walked to a food distribution site in Bentiu in Unity state. By contrast, the medical charity’s Bentiu clinic treated 104 survivors of sexual assault in the first 10 months of this year.

A midwife with Doctors Without Borders said victims included pregnant and elderly women and girls as young as 10. U.N. officials said the attacks were carried out by men in military uniforms and civilian clothing.