The Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Minister of Health, Jaafer Riiny, confirmed the outbreak and attributed it to improper waste disposal, which has led to widespread contamination, noting that the outbreak remains uncontained.
Riiny reported that 14 patients are currently admitted in Aweil South County, with an additional patient receiving treatment at the Maper Akot Aru treatment centre.
“Two people passed away in Aweil South County earlier this month, and one in Aweil Town. Currently, 14 patients are admitted in Aweil South alone, and their conditions are critical,” he said.
“We continuously advise the local population to maintain proper hygiene and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting, which are indicative of cholera,” Riiny added.
The minister emphasised the state’s commitment to working closely with health partners to prevent further escalation of the disease. “I have engaged in discussions with health organisations to support containment efforts, and we are exploring the establishment of additional treatment centres for cholera patients,” he stated.
In a related development, the spokesperson for the Abyei Community Association, based in the Abyei Administrative Area, confirmed on Monday that at least two additional deaths from cholera were recorded in Amiet last week.
Tong Kuot Tong revealed that one of the victims, identified as Mayen Mayen from Tiar-aliet payam in Aweil South County, died while conducting business in Amiet.
“The first individual who died in Amiet was Mayen Mayen from Aweil South County. The second was Deng Yak from Warawar in Aweil East County. Both passed on in the Amiet area of Abyei Town,” Tong clarified.
Tong attributed the cholera outbreak in Amiet to poor hygiene, exacerbated by the dire living conditions faced by many residents, particularly returnees.
“The majority of people in Amiet are returnees who remain stranded. They lack access to proper shelters, and as a result, open defecation is rampant. This is the primary cause of the cholera problem in the area,” Tong explained.
He called on Governor Simon Ober Mawut to renew efforts to transport these returnees back to their places of origin, particularly Aweil Town.
“We are still appealing to Governor Mawut to demonstrate his commitment by arranging transportation for these individuals to return home to Aweil Town and other areas,” Tong urged.
It remains uncertain whether Governor Ober Mawut will deploy additional vehicles to facilitate the repatriation of the stranded returnees, who continue to face heightened risks of contracting cholera due to their precarious living conditions.
Northern Bahr El Ghazal State and Abyei Administrative Area remain among the regions hardest hit by cholera across South Sudan, which also includes Greater Kapoeta in Eastern Equatoria State.
