By Hou Akot Hou
Residents of Nyalath Payam in Aweil Center County, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, are voicing concerns about the inadequate cemetery space designated by the state government at outskirts of the Town.
Locals reported to this outlet on Tuesday that people from Aweil Town are hurriedly burying corpses in shallow graves, leading to frequent exposure of remains.
Garang Atem, a resident of the area, expressed alarm at discovering decomposing bodies emerging from their graves, which creates a filthy odor and poses a health risk to nearby residents.
“People come here with dead bodies and perform improper burials. This generates a terrible smell for those of us living around the cemetery. Some arrive with unidentified individuals, dig shallow graves, and simply dump them before leaving,” he stated.
Atem also questioned the lack of infrastructure, saying, “we expected a proper fence made of barbed wire to be erected, but nothing has been done.”
Kuol Kuol, another resident, appealed to the authorities to station police at the site to prevent further random and improper burials.
“It would be beneficial if police personnel were assigned to the area. This is an urgent need,” he said.
The commissioner of Aweil Center County, Peter Natale, acknowledged the complaints, admitting that improper burials are occurring in the cemetery designated for public use.
“It is true that the people of Nyalath are suffering from inadequate burial practices, which result in unpleasant odors as corpses decompose. I have discussed this issue with the former governor and will follow up with the current governor to ensure a wire fence is erected,” Natale stated.
“The deputy governor has pledged to approach international organizations that have expressed willingness to help fence the cemetery, and I will work with them on this matter,” he pledged.
The cemetery serves as the only burial site in the state, with the government urging residents to refrain from burying individuals in their homes, as properties may be sold at any time when circumstances change.