July 18th, 2019(Nyamilepedia) — Reports emerging from South Sudan’s Bieh State alleged that a family of 7 members have died in Walgak county after consuming food that was recently distributed by the World Food Program.
According to reports from the area, more critical cases are reported in Walgak and others in Akobo Central County’s Padoy Payam.
Although Nyamilepedia cannot independently verified how each of the 7 family members died, our correspondent from Walgak said the family of seven ate from a food made from recently distributed WFP food and that they all died in a range of hours.
Other residents from Walgak said they were warned recently not to eat from WFP food believed to have been donated from India saying that such food was allegedly poisoned.
The second source narrates that they were advised that some food was not safe to eat but the rest, which seems to have originated from Tanzania, was safe to consume; however, the one that was expected to be safe was not safe.
“One (1) consignment carrying six hundreds Bags of Sorghum came from India and dropped in Walgak for civilians consumption.” One social media correspondent narrates.
“Some thousands of SORGHUM originating from Tanzania were dropped in Walgak for civilians consumption.” He continued.
“While Walgak (Akobo West) County civilians were receiving their food rations on 17-18 July 2019, they were WARNED by the WFP and Oxfam Staffs that the airdrop (600 sacks of Sorghum) that originated from India is carrying food with poisons, but they were told or allowed to distribute to eat only food rations which originated (brought) from Tanzania believing that it is free of poisons.” The source further reiterates.
Attempt to contact opposition officials, who control the area were not immediately returned due to insufficient network.
Both areas are under control of the SPLM/A(IO); however, the residents are skeptics that their food might have been poisoned by Kiir’s government supporters or officials due to political and tribal differences.
Similar cases have been reported in Leer County of former Unity State and both the government and World Food Program were blamed.
While the governing authority in the area remains silent, local residents call on World Health Organization and other independent bodies to intervene to investigate the cause of what they believe is food poisoning.
