Partial evacuation has taken place in Adut Adhot Village in Warguet Payam in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State’s Aweil East County after 14 family members lost their lives from a mystery disease within two weeks.
Local residents said the first incident was recorded around July 30 when four family members died. A similar incident claimed the lives of nine members of the same family on August 15 and one more on August 18.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday morning, one of the villagers, Awan Awan, reported that one person lost his life on Sunday, confirming the retreat of some families to nearby alternative neighborhoods.
Although the government announced that it had taken measures to verify and control the disease, Awan blamed it for the inadequate efforts to identify the mysterious health problem.
“One of our sons passed away yesterday (Sunday) in connection with the same issue. The situation is still deteriorating and up to now there was no delegation from the government, especially the Ministry of Health on the ground to investigate the cause of the deaths,” he lamented.
“We are not comfortable and some of the people have run away from the area because the plague is still going on,’’ said Awan.
Another villager, Diing Ngong, told the broadcaster that people were taking refuge in churches and other surrounding areas. He mentioned that a road that links Adut Adhot and Malualkon was blocked on claims that those using it may die on reaching their final destinations.
“Internal displacement has happened in the Adut Adhot Village because they have relocated to churches and nearby neighborhoods,” he explained.
“The roads to Malualkon and Warawar are also blocked because it is reported that those using them may die instantly upon reaching their final destination,” he claimed.
Aweil East County Commissioner Diing Aher Ngong called for calm over the dreadful ailment, saying the government investigations were in progress.
“This is a fearful disease and no one is to blame for it. Yes, people are panicking for their lives and none wants to stay around that family,” he said.