A teenage boy died in Agok on Monday when a pit he was digging collapsed on him. The 15‐year‐old victim identified as Ring Goong Ring was digging the sand to sell for use in construction.
Two other boys, 16‐year‐old Majok Majok Yak and 17-year-old Akoon Adhar Malong were treated for minor injuries to the chest and legs owing to the incident.
Eight young people have died in this way in the past four years, Abyei Today reported.
Another sand digger, Akuei Mijak, who is 15, said he was doing well if he earned 10ssp in a day. He said he knew hat th work was risky when the sand pits could be two meters deep, but he said he needed the money.
Adut Ajang Agoth lives in Maker Aniet, west of Agok. Her 15‐year‐old son broke his leg in an accident in the same pit that claimed the life of Ring. She said parents could not keep an eye on their children all the time. Her son had needed five months of treatment on his leg, which had cost her a cow.
The commander of the market’s community police, Dabaang Daak Akol, blamed traders for sending children to fill wheelbarrows with sand for use in building work. He said officers would chase away any children seen near the pits, and wheelbarrows would be seized.
But one trader, Abdulla Ali Arbab, said young people made their own choice to dig sand, and were not asked to do so by traders. He said buying sand was a fair exchange between young people and traders.
Dut Piok Amor, from the Agok Administration Unit, said he would contact UNISFA to install a fence around the pit, and the deeper holes would be filled in. Maathy Agok, from the AAA’s social welfare department, is the supervisor of a children’s drop‐in center in Agok.
He said children’s rights had to be respected. That meant that traders should not give them hard work, but simple work that was appropriate for their age.