Africa-Press – South-Sudan. At least 16 children drowned in floods at a crowded internally displaced persons’ camp in the Unity State capital, Bentiu, a local official said.
The community high committee chairperson, Tang Dok Tuong said the 16 were mainly children swimming without knowing the depth of the flooded water.
“We have recorded and confirmed 16 deaths cases of drowning and many deaths happened before. The reason why we have this huge drowning death cases is because many children are swimming in floods water without knowing the depths,” he told Sudans Post on Tuesday.
Dok said 11 of those killed were children while the rest were intoxicated adults.
“As I speak now, those who drowned to deaths are mostly children because some parents allow children to swim in flood waters. 5 were adults those who drank alcohol and were unable to rescue themselves in deep water,” he added.
According to Dok, joint police forces have been deployed to prevent drowning.
“The deployment of joint polices forces alongside the flood waters and dams will prevent more drowning of children and vulnerable people,” he stressed.
Since 2015, more than 36 people have reportedly drowned in the protection of civilian sites in Bentiu.
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