AWEIL-The residents of Nyalath Payam in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state’s Aweil Center County on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction over the subpar burial of the dead bodies at the state-designated cemetery outside of Aweil town.
Locals told this outlet on Tuesday that the bodies were hurried to the location and buried in bad condition.
A local resident Garang Atem, said they have found dead bodies emerging from the grave, which is concerning since they decompose and emit a stronger stench, endangering the health of those who live close to the cemetery.
“Everyone just comes with a dead body and do an improper burial here. This gives a bad smell to us around the cemetery. People come with those whose identities are not known and excavate some few meters and dump them and leave,” Atem said.
“We thought that the proper fence made of barbed wire would be erected, but nothing of that kind has happened.”
Another local, Kuol Kuol, urged the authorities to deploy police officers at the site to stop people from being buried improperly at the location.
“It would serve a good purpose if the police personnel were stationed at the site. It is something that we need immediately,” he said.
Peter Natale, the commissioner of Aweil Center County, accepts the allegation and pledges to investigate.
“It is true that people of Nyalath are suffering improper burial. As corpses decompose, they give off a bad smell. I have discussed with the ex-governor and would follow up with the current governor so that a wire fence is erected, said Natale.
“The deputy governor has pledged to ask the international organizations that have pledged to fence the cemetery, and it is something that I will work on with them,” he said.
Since the government advises against burying people in town residences because someone may sell the plot at any point when the situation becomes fluid, the cemetery is the only location for burials in the state.
