Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Authorities in AyodCounty, Jonglei State urged parents to be cautious with explosive objects. On Wednesday last week,three children were reported dead and seven other people wounded after agrenade accidentally exploded in the area.
James Chuol Jiek, theAyod County commissioner, confirmed that at least three children were killedwhile seven others were critically injured after a grenade exploded in WauPayam of Ayod County.
“The grenade belongedto a police officer who was sitting with the children. The grenade exploded inhis pocked killing children and injuring others” Jiek said
Jiek said the policeofficer’s leg was wounded in the explosion. Investigations were underway in order to establish circumstance underwhich the grenade exploded.
Jiek said he wascoordinating with the people in the area to ensure the wounded werereferred toBor or Juba for better medical care. Jiek urged parents to always remainvigilant and caution their children against playing with unknown objects thatcould be explosive ordinances and devices.
“Grenades are banned inSouth Sudan and why this officer was carrying it in pocked is what we need tofind out. The parents should be carefulwith any object that can explode, that is my advice.” Jiek added
Major General JosephMayen Akoon, the Jonglei state police commissioner, confirmed he was aware ofthe incident but said police have not arrested any suspects so far.
“I was just informedthat 3 people were killed because of a hand grenade explosion. And also therewere some [people] injured. I will still call [the people in the area] to knowexactly the reason why the hand grenade exploded.”
Incidences ofexplosions have been common across South Sudan in recent months. A 13-year-old boy was reportedly killed andhis two younger sisters critically injured after a grenade exploded in NorthernBahr el Ghazal State in February. Also in march two people died after a manthrew a grenade in a bus park in Rumbek town of Lakes state and in January2020, at least 22 people died in a grenade explosion in Wau, Western Bahr elGhazal State.
According to the UnitedNations Mine Action Service, more than 5,000 South Sudanese, including 249 childrenhave been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordinance since 2004.
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