Aweil chiefs call for more aid

Chief Representative Peter Makuach Makuach confirmed the threat of famine among the communities in the state and urged the governor to involve chiefs during the distribution of humanitarian assistance.

Our people are severely suffering simply because of hunger and diseases.

“Our people are severely suffering simply because of hunger and diseases. During the war between Sudan and South Sudan, chiefs were involved in organising the people so that every vulnerable person get a share. We call upon the governor to reconsider us because we are the ones who know the weak people in the villages,” he said, adding that he suspected that relief food was going missing.

They also said the organising relief body is turning a blind eye to those most in need, rather focusing on their relatives. Paramount Chief Makuach said the organisation slowed the distribution of mosquito nets to help prevent people from contracting malaria. “We heard nets are brought and were not distributed to the people. Why? This is the right time to protect the people from malaria,” he said.

Governor Deng Deng Akuei acknowledged that there are certain issues with aid distribution. He said relief work is the responsibility of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) and the World Food Programme (WFP). He underlined the need to include chiefs in the system so that vulnerable people get food. “No one in my government will accept the mess we heard of in Aweil State. Chiefs will be represented in the system if essential and necessary,” he said.

The governor blames the RRC staff for poor organisation when distribution took place last months at Malualkhon.
“My office is near the warehouse. I know how things are going on here. People who were intended to get assistance were not getting anything due to such disorganised work – we will not allow this to repeat itself,” he said.

A lot of people, especially women and children, are affected by malaria.

The State Minister of Education, who is also the acting Minister of Health, William Ater Lual, confirmed that malaria cases were on the rise in the sate health centres and hunger and malnutrition are widespread. “A lot of people, especially women and children, are affected by malaria,” he said.

Minister Ater assured the chiefs that the distribution of nets will be conducted sonnest, blaming the July 2016 violence in Juba for the delays, as many key people were evacuated.