Disgruntled persons with disability assault Aweil official over missing food

By Hou Akot Hou

A group of persons living with disability in Aweil town assaulted the director general for state ministry of gender, child and social welfare, Mary Arkangelo Bak after she failed to account for the food consignment meant for them.

An eye witness Machuar Garang Deng, told The Juba Echo on Thursday that a group of persons with disability stormed Arkangelo’s office on Wednesday demanding for their share of the food donated by well-wishers for distribution to vulnerable people.

Arkangelo is believed to have infuriated the group when she informed them she had no food for distribution.

 “The bags of sorghum, maize, flour and cooking oil went missing. We found out that the food was whisked away. The director general conspired with other ministers to share the food,” Garang said.

Garang who was part of the group that met with Arkangelo, said he and his other colleagues on learning they were cheated by the official decided to assault the latter.

“The minister of gender, child and social welfare distanced himself from the problem so we were too angry because the visually impaired persons got their share, and we and other people who use crushes never got,” he said.

Garang said that officials distributed food to the returnees from neighboring Sudan ahead of them.

However, when contacted Arkangelo said the food consignment delivered by local NGO Concern South Sudan was particularly meant for returnees, adding the surplus was to be distributed to returnees.

“We distributed the food and it got finished instantly, I regret being abused and insulted,” she said.

Concern South Sudan that distributed the food belongs to the First Lady Mary Ayen Mayardit.