By Manas James
World Food Programme (WFP) supplies to Malakal went aflame on Saturday at Bor in Jonglei state.
Maj. Gen. Elia Costa Faustino, the state police commissioner, said the boat belonged to a local businessman was hired by World Food Programme to transport relief aid to Malakal.
“The boat, loaded with food aid was en route to Upper Nile State capital of Malakal. It caught fire and later sank while being fueled at a dock in the Total area, Bor,” the police commissioner, said.
At least four people were injured as the cargo boat went up in flames at the outskirts of Jonglei State capital, Bor, the police authorities said.
“They sustained injuries and were transported to Bor State Hospital. Two of them were in a very serious condition and they have since been referred to Juba for further medication,” he said.
Elijah Thongbor Abraham, the secretary-general of Boats’ Trade called on boat captains to take precautionary measures.
“We did not know what exactly triggered this tragedy but sometimes when a fuel drum is too old, a reaction would occur leading to inferno,” he said.
Destruction of the food items is a loss to not only the WFP but those who could have benefited.
The Saturday incidence followed a similar one which occurred recently in the same area, where relief items equally got lost to the boat fire.
However, No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper could not easily to get information from the World Food Programme on amount of the items lost in the inferno, by press time.