Dozens of people have been hospitalised due to food poisoning on Thursday evening after they attended a party organized in Aweil town of Aweil State.

The Aweil civil hospital director, Reec Mathok Diing told Radio Tamazuj this morning that the health facility had received 89 patients vomiting and experiencing diarrhoea and dizziness, adding that  the problem started after a group of people who attended a party started complaining of stomach ache and diarrhea. 

He further said people fell ill with food poisoning after a meal at the party organized in the town of Aweil. “We received those poisoning cases at around 6:30 p.m. coming from South Sudan Hotel, and the cases increased at around 7:00 p.m.,” he explained.

The medical doctor pointed out that the cases admitted at the main facility were being closely monitored.

Reec disclosed that other patients were also receiving treatment at private clinics in Aweil town. “We have reports that other patients who attended the party went to private hospitals exhibiting the same symptoms, but we don’t know the number that went to private health facilities,” he explained.

Several eyewitnesses said the party was organized by a local group known as "niggers" - a term in South Sudan used to denote urban gang members.

Police could not immediately be reached for comment.