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Aweil – Al-Wadi Newspaper
In a heartbreaking scene that reflects the depth of suffering, residents of Kongder Dut Jok, a remote area in Aweil South County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, were forced to carry the body of an elderly woman on their heads using a traditional bed to reach the burial site. The act comes as a result of impassable roads that prevent vehicles and ambulances from accessing the area.
According to a report published by Aweil News Agency, the region suffers from severe infrastructure decay and limited health services. It is served by only one Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) located in Akhac, leaving hundreds of families without access to basic medical care.
Martin Kuel, a local resident, described the situation as “tragic,” citing the death of Madam Kuei Wek Deng Yai, who passed away at the Malek-alel PHCC. Due to the absence of accessible roads, her family had no choice but to walk long distances through rough terrain while carrying her body to its final resting place.
“We are completely cut off from the rest of the state because of poor roads,” Kuel told the agency. “Every emergency, whether a death or a medical case, becomes a struggle. We urgently call on the government to intervene.”
Kuel appealed to both the state and national governments to address the residents’ suffering by constructing roads that connect the area to nearby health facilities and essential services. He stressed that improving infrastructure is not a luxury but a life-saving necessity.
The region, home to farming and pastoralist communities, has long been marginalized in development efforts. This situation, Kuel noted, makes urgent investment in development critical to easing the burden on residents and promoting basic social justice.
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