South Sudan oil pollution left 56 people dead in Fangak County

JUBA — A South Sudanese lawmaker on Wednesday said at least 56 people have reportedly died of a suspected ‘oil spill in Fangak County of Jonglei State.

Gatkouth Loat Joar, who represents Ayod County in Jonglei State at Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly, said during parliamentary sitting in Juba on Wednesday that deaths recorded in the past two weeks were mostly children, elderly, and women.

“These are very dangerous gases as we know petrol consist of gases, we want the parliament to investigate the disaster and provide an urgent solution to help the citizen of Ayod,” Gatkouth said.

Gatkouth called for an urgent investigation to avert a catastrophe that has left 56 people dead.

“56 people have died from oil-population in Fangak, the citizens drink directly from the river contaminated by the oil spill and there is no health intervention, we have summoned the minister of petroleum, health, and the minister of environment,” Gatkouth said.

He said ASCOM, an oil and gas firm from Moldova which was contracted to explore oil there left the area following the 2013 conflict.

“Ayod County in Lowie area, there is petroleum explosion that happens years back, and the petrol was discovered in Ayod and the contract was given to ASCOM Company, during 2013 conflict the company withdraws and when back to his country of origin,” he said.

He said an environmental impact assessment has not been conducted in the area since the petroleum firm stopped operations following the 2013 conflict.

“The discovered oil wells experienced an explosion in Pagil in Lowie Boma and it has dangerous effects on the community because Pagil is affected by the flood. The water and oil mixed posing dangerous threats to animal resources, cows and goats are dying daily and it has also affected the residents killing people including children and old age and women,” he said.

“The disaster has entered the neighboring Fangak County through Zaraf River; we have received figures of the death toll from the commissioner. It starts with diarrhea and the following day, the person died,” he added.