VP Wani says gov’t will not wait until the people of Bentiu drown as ‘death cannot wait’

JUBA – South Sudan’s Vice President for Economic Cluster Dr. James Wani Igga has said that the government in Juba cannot wait until the people of Bentiu drown, saying that would be, “insensitive” of the government because “death cannot wait.”

Speaking during the closing session of the public consultation on Nile water at Freedom Hall on Thursday, Igga said he agrees with those calling for dredging to take place in order to rescue the person of South Sudan from immense flooding that has displaced hundreds of thousands.

“The main reason why we need this dredging is, I agree with those who say that we have to rescue your people from floods because they are dying in front of us now, now not tomorrow,” Igga is quoted as saying by Eye Radio.

“May be 60 percent displaced, in Bentiu maybe 50 percent now displaced, and we think that we shouldn’t wait until all the sciences of the world are finished,” he added.

He said that the government cannot wait until the people of Bentiu die of flooding and said that the aim for dredging is not only to rescue people from floods, but to also remove impediments blocking navigation which is necessary for economic activities.

“We come to rescue them from drowning, ahh, that would be very insensitive of us, Death is death, it cannot wait, you rescue life,” Igga said.

“The aim, therefore, is not only to reduce the flooding, but it is also to create navigation for us. Transport, we just want to remove the sand and the mud that has been around there,” he added.