By William Madouk and Hou Akot
More than 220 goats and sheep suffocated at a livestock-keeping centre in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, on Sunday night.
Kerbino Thiep Tong, state minister of Animal Resources & Fisheries said out of 342 animals kept in a selling centre, two hundred twenty-seven sheep and goats died due to lack of oxygen.
“They put a lot of sheep and goats in a single keeping centre which is covered by tarpaulin [plastic sheet] and the heat was too much yesterday in Aweil town,” Tong explained.
“Team from ministry did their testing and found no sickness among the dead animals, however, the issue was due to lack of ventilators, an oxygen problem leading to the death of these animals,” he added.
He assured that his team at the ministry of Animal Resources would leave no stone unturn to dig deeper, although initial investigation shows that no sickness-related-death among animals.
” I want to call residents at this place don’t attempt to eat this goat meat because of the worry diseases that might affect human health while eating meat,” Minister revealed
Mr. Tong attributed the death of sheep and goats to human error in not considering ventilators at keeping centres.
He warned the public against eating the meat of the dead animals. He suggested that dead animals will be buried to minimize the risk of being consumed.
The Executive Director of Aweil Town Municipality, Deng Akol also confirmed that the goal died at the selling centre in Aweil Town due to air complications at the centre.
He stated that the town council would soon carry out significant measures to make sure that keep centres are well aired so that will be a haven for animals meant for business.
Madhan Bol, a local trader, recounted his harrowing experience on Monday.
“I was in a deep sleep when a friend woke me up, saying the goats were suffocating in a pen that was not adequately ventilated. By the time we reached them, we discovered that 200 goats had already succumbed,” Bol explained.
He expressed his devastation, noting that the goats, which they purchase from local residents for prices starting at 200,000 SSP, were a vital part of their livelihood.
“We are completely devastated. Most of us rely solely on this business for our income,” he added.
Another trader, Ngong Anei, shared that he lost over 30 goats.
“We need support to continue our work and sustain our families,” Anei urged.