AWEIL — At least 20 goats have died after a house was allegedly set ablaze by a person believed to be mentally ill in Aweil South County of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, according to a police investigator.
The incident occurred on Monday while residents were asleep, after three tukuls were allegedly set ablaze by a person suspected of being mentally distressed.
Kur Mabior Kur, a criminal investigator in Aweil South County, told this publication on Wednesday that preliminary reports indicated that all household belongings and assets were destroyed in the fire, but no one was injured.
“What happened on Monday is that the goats were burned inside the byre, and the number that we have received is 20, excluding the kids of the goats,” said Mabior.
He blamed the incident on negligence by relatives who allow such individuals to roam freely around the house.
“By this time such a situation occurs, we blame the relatives for allowing them to move without anyone taking care of them. This message goes to the public to take note of that.”
Mabior called on local authorities to establish safe shelters where people with mental health conditions can receive proper care, supervision, and treatment.
“If we were responsible enough to care for such individuals within our society by providing them with the necessary support, including hospitalization and treatment, we would not be seeing them roaming among us without proper care, attention, and sympathy.”
Health workers are appealing to international partners for increased funding to support the establishment of mental health centers across the country.
They said the lack of adequate care and support for people with mental health conditions is contributing to deaths and other harmful incidents, while limited policies and programmers continue to hamper efforts to address the growing mental health crisis.
