Local authorities in Aweil West County of Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State have cautioned the communities to be careful while crossing the river, saying the warning will protect people from drowning.

The authorities issued the warning after a 17-year-old girl drowned in Gomjuer West Payam while she was navigating the waters of Chel River on Saturday last week. 

John Garang Aguot, the Executive Director in Aweil West County, urged citizens to observe the orders.

“I am giving my message to all people. Of course, the river is not good because it has taken our small children who used to play in it,” Garang Aguot said. “Every child and everybody who has children must make sure that children do not go to play in the river randomly because there are dangerous locations in the river. If the child goes in, he may be thinking that he is playing, but there are death incidents. I am telling all people that what happened in Chelkou is not good.’’ 

For his part, the Aweil West County police inspector, Deng Mathon Akot, said that a 17-year-old girl identified Akuol Anei Lula drowned to death while she was playing on a local boat in the Chel River last Saturday.

“The incident happened in a Payam called Chel in Aweil West, it occurred last Saturday. The girl found the boat near the river and she rode on it and played on the river and the boat capsized. She died immediately. The boat, whenever you ride it, takes in water,” Deng said.

Last year alone, more than six people lost their lives across Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State in drowning incidents.

On 20th October 2020, government officials said Kuol Dut, believed to be suffering from epilepsy, fell in floodwaters while harvesting crops in Kak-Kuot village-the most flooded zone in Aweil North County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. In the same month, a 36-year-old man drowned and died after he was wading to cross a river in Aweil South County.

On 23rd October 2020, an 11-year-old boy was reported to have drowned to death in floodwaters in Malual-Baai Payam, Aweil East County, officials said at the time. In the same month, two girls drowned while they were trying to cross a river in Marial-Baai Payam of Aweil West County. 

In a related incident on 16th November 2020, authorities in Aweil North County confirmed that a 15-year-old boy, Thiol Jongkoor, drowned and died while trying to cross floodwaters in the Majak-Baai area.