By William Madouk
A five-year-old boy has been allegedly killed by an unidentified wild animal in flood-ravaged Pigi County, Jonglei State, according to local authorities.
Speaking to No.1 Citizen in a phone call interview, Pigi County Commissioner, Suliman Deng Thon expressed serious concerns about the waiting threat posed by an unidentified wild animal.
“A five-year-old boy had been attacked and eaten up by an unknown wild animal on Sunday, we only discovered his bones the following morning,” Pigi County Commissioner, Deng said.
“We have not yet identified this wild animal and therefore we cannot guess which animal it is since we have not killed nor seen it,” he added.
According to him, the ill-fated incident occurred at midnight. It took place after families sought refuge in a highland due to inundation.
The commissioner cited that about 5,000 people have been displaced by the ever-increasing flood waters.
“All the properties were damaged, farms destroyed and people are now displaced to highland and approximately 2000 houses were wrecked by flood [affecting 5000 people],” he said.
Mr. Thon revealed that the overflowing of waters from the River Nile, Sobat and Jonglei Canal had exacerbated the situation.
“We call on international and local humanitarian agencies and well-wishers to swiftly intervene in Pigi County,” he appealed.
Mr. Thon added that up to now the flood victims have not received any aid assistance from organizations and the government.
“People are in a dire situation, sickness, hunger and lack of shelters and they really need medicines, water sheets, mosquito nets and food assistance,” The Commissioner lamented.
He further called on the national government to extend telecommunication connectivity to Pigi area.
He asserted that should communication networks be there; the citizen can rapidly share information for timely intervention.
When contacted by this to shed light on what the state government is doing and provide statistics of flood-affected people, Nyamar Lony, the Minister of Information for Jonglei, said she was still consulting the higher authority.