Authorities in the Abyei area said on Wednesday that a humanitarian truck carrying food aid to Awalnhom village in Rumamer County overturned, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuring seven others.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Bulis Koch, Abyei’s Minister of Information said the incident occurred on Wednesday when a truck, typically used to transport food assistance to IDPs, overturned, resulting in the deaths of four civilians and injuring seven others.
“There was a tragic traffic accident involving a humanitarian truck. Four people lost their lives, and seven others were injured. All injured individuals were admitted to the Abyei MSF health site, with those sustaining minor injuries released the same day,” he explained.
Minister Koch clarified that the truck was carrying food from Abyei to the IDP camp in Rumamer County, where displaced individuals from Abiemnhom County in the Ruweng Administrative Area had settled in Awalnhom village.
“These IDPs, originally from Abiemnhom in the Ruweng administrative area, were displaced to Mayom Ngok village in Abyei last year. When security threats escalated this year, they sought refuge in Abyei town and received their food rations at Awalnhom. After collecting their food, they were returning to Abyei in the empty truck when the accident occurred, tragically resulting in fatalities,” he said.
He also mentioned that a recent visit by top security officials to Abyei had led to improved coordination along the tripartite borders between Abyei Special Administrative Area, Twic County of Warrap State, and Mayom County of Unity State.
Koch stated that security forces, including those deployed by the heads of security, had been strengthened in response to suspected criminal activities. However, he noted that despite these efforts, a humanitarian truck accident occurred on its return from a distribution point in Rumamer County, resulting in casualties.
“The overall security situation is stable. The general in charge of border security, along with his deputy who is from Abyei and oversees the Abyei independent brigade, deployed forces to areas with suspected criminal activities, improving the security situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bulabek Deng, the Abyei area chief, confirmed the sequence of events, stating, “The truck departed from Abyei to distribute food to internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Awalnhom along the Kiir river. After the beneficiaries utilized the truck to reach the distribution point, it was returning to Abyei town when it overturned, resulting in the unfortunate loss of four lives and injuries to others.”