Juba, South Sudan
February 2, 2022 — Authorities in Ayod County of Jonglei state confirmed that residents are fleeing the county due to oil contamination.
A dire health situation was reported to be looming last year as the officials there said untapped crude oil was contaminating the north-western outskirts of Ayod town.
In a statement seen by Nyamilepedia, Mr. James Chuol Jiek, the Ayod County commissioner appeals for government intervention, claiming about 5,000 people have been displaced from their homes as water become contaminated.
“Oil has spread over several areas apart from Lowiir. About 2,000 people have been displaced from Nyamathiang, 1,500 from Puryom, 1,005 from Nguer-pargai, and Pulnaidueny with 1,200. Wan and Pakuem areas are also affected but they are hard to access” Hon. Chuol Jiek said.
“the majority of those affected are here with us in Ayod along the Jonglei Canal.” Commissioner Chuol stated in a statement obtained by Nyamilepedia.
Commissioner Chuol urged the state and national governments to send expertise to the area to assess the situation.
“The solution is for the government to send people to assess our situation because women are giving birth to babies with strange features,” he said.
One Ayod resident identified as Gabriel Tot said the situation is going to be worse if the government fails to involve because they rely on surface water for daily consumption.
“The entire area of the Gawar community is being affected with cases of babies with deformities. We want the government to see what is happening, Resident Tot quoted by Radio Tamazuj to have said.
Tuong Majok, the state cabinet minister, said they are aware of the oil spill but that the state lacks expertise to assess Ayod.
Majok pointed out that the situation will normalize as the floodwaters recede.
Floods has negatively affected South Sudan since the past two years and it displaced thousands from their places especially people from Greater Upper Nile Region and some parts of Greater Bahr El Ghazal Region.
