Cholera, hunger death toll rises to 2, 000 in Pow State: Official

Photo: South Sudanese refugees at Lelo, Upper Nile State, 3 October 2013 (Radio Tamazuj)

The number of conflict-displaced people, who died from hunger and cholera outbreak in several areas within the rebel-controlled ‘Pow State’, located in what is otherwise known as Pangak State since April has reached at least 2,000, a senior opposition official said.

The number of conflict-displaced people, who died from hunger and cholera outbreak in several areas within the rebel-controlled 'Pow State', located in what is otherwise known as Pangak State since April has reached at least 2,000, a senior opposition official said.

Earlier this month, several officials reported that at least 1,250 people died from hunger and cholera outbreak in Pow State.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj in an interview on Wednesday, Peter Pouk Koang, the rebel-appointed deputy governor of Pow State, said the displaced people are suffering from hunger and cholera outbreak, amid absence of humanitarian organizations in the area.

Koang further said the areas most affected include Wau, Mogok and Pagiel.

“In Pagiel County about 2,000 people have died of cholera and when you go to Mogok area last month the dead toll was 190 but now it has reached 380. In Dony Deng Payam, the number has risen to 38, and in Kondiang and Buoth the number is 19,” he said.

The opposition official noted that areas close to water sources are more at risk of cholera.

He pointed out that the death toll due to hunger among the displaced people has risen from 130 to 219 since February. He called on organizations to quickly intervene to rescue the situation.

Radio Tamazuj could not reach Medair organization that is operating in the area to comment on the matter.