Returnee child dies due to diarrhea in Aweil East County

By Hou Akot Hou

A six year-old child who recently returned after fleeing conflict with his family in Sudan died over the weekend in Mabil area of Aweil East County in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State.

The child named Diing Kuac Garang, is said to have developed severe diarrhea that led to his death as the family awaited to be integrated into the community.

Garang Johnson, an eye witness told the Juba Echo on Sunday that he found the mother of the deceased child lying on the floor with dozens of others as they were dropped from Aweil town to Aweil East County for integration into the local community.

“They (returnees) are in the County headquarters lying on the floor and neither the government nor humanitarian agencies have done anything to support these people,” he said.

Johnson said that most of the returnees fled ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.

He disclosed that the returnees in Aweil East County are seeking to reunite with their family members.

 The baby is said to have been buried in the house of one of the host community members at Mabil in Wanyjok of Aweil East County.

The Bishop of Episcopal Church Diocese of Wanyjok, said that his local organization known as CIRDA last week visited these returnees.

He said they are coordinating with humanitarian partners and authorities to support these returnees.