Unity State residents relocated from oil-affected areas

By Chondok Stephen Magei

The unity state government has relocated residents who live around the oilfield area to Roriah Boma under Rubkona County in the wake of oil chemical mismanagement by Greater Petroleum Operating Company (GPOC) coupled with pipeline leakage.

Tot Jockchieng, the Unity State Acting Minister of Health who also doubles as the Minister of Education, confirmed the relocation of residents from two major camps.

He said residents who live nearby unity oilfield were relocated 20 kilometres from oil operating companies.

“We have decided to relocate people who live around unity oilfield to Roriah and Budang Payams because we fear the long-term effect of toxic chemical wastes,” Jockchieng told Juba Echo during an interview in Bentiu.

Last year, an oil pipeline cracked for three days when the technical person went on leave. The toxic chemical wastes left unattended caused birth defects and unprecedented pollution.

The Acting Minister of Health assure full government support to newly relocated people and he said humanitarian WASH partners, health partners, and education cluster agreed to render services to the relocated people.

“Temporary health facilities, schools and WASH activities will be set up by humanitarian partners under the supervision of the State Ministry of Health.”

“Over 30,000 people who live near unity oilfield will all be relocated to Roriah, and 20,000 will be relocated to Budang,” he said Jockchieng.