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South Sudan Residents Protest Oil Facilities

David Mono Danga

   JUBA , SOUTH SUDAN - Residents around South Sudan's Palouch and Melut
   oil fields in Upper Nile state demonstrated Wednesday for a third
   consecutive day against environmental pollution caused by the oil
   companies. The protesters blocked the doors of at least two oil
   companies and shut down roads and the airstrip in Palouch.

   Protester Thon Beny Thon, who resides in Palouch, told South Sudan in
   Focus that oil companies have polluted nearby land with toxic
   wastewater and chemicals. He also said protesters are accusing the
   government and oil companies of failing to live up to their commitment
   to reinvest a portion of oil revenues to improve local infrastructure
   and clean up the environment.

   "The residents are supposed to benefit from the oil being produced in
   their area, it's their right," Thon said. "Since 1997 -- it has been
   over 20 years now -- oil is being drilled, but there are no good
   schools, no clean water, no roads, no hospitals and nothing good for
   the residents."

   "The environment is contaminated, causing so many health
   complications," said Thon, who called increased birth defects and
   miscarriages among local women a result of the pollution.

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