S An international oil consortium operating in Southern Sudan has been accused by a human rights organisation of polluting ground water in the region, thus putting the lives of the local at a what it termed as 'gravious risk' of contracting terminal diseases. The organisation, Sign of Hope, that is based in Germany presented the results of a six week research carried out in Southern Sudan's Thar Unity, Al Nar and Toma South wells, which are operated by the giant Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC).

Sign of Hope chairman Klaus Stieglitz told a media briefing on Tuesday in Nairobi's Stanley Hotel, that there is clear pollution in most of GNPOC's oilfields. He accused the company of negligence in the disposal of its waste. He added that most of the disposal ponds have no plastic linings to stop the oil from being sapped in to the soil He said that the end result has been the pollution of the top water layer, which is the main water source for the locals. “What we is putting the lives of more than 550,000 humans who are living in Unity state at risk. The responsible oil company is about to destroy the Sudd, the world’s largest swamplands, by discharging the waste practically untreated", he said.


According to water analysis which was carried out in the field by the organisation and its previous findings, the contamination has already reached the upper drinking water layer. Klaus added that they had taken water samples at several water hand pumps throughout Unity state. Some of these water wells, he added, contained extremely high concentrations of salt and heavy metals like lead and chromium. High saline waters cause diarrhea, which, if left untreated, could lead to deaths. In one water well, the amount of lead was as high as 0.17 mg/litre, exceeding the WHO drinking water guideline17-fold. Lead can cause delays in the physical or mental development of children. Adults can face kidney problems.

The organisation has been in operation since 1994, and has previously presented its findings to the United Nations General Assembly on the matter. Klaus concluded by saying that his organisation will continue highlighting the issue of ground water pollution by the oil companies operating in Southern Sudan until they change their ways, since most of them, particularly GNPOC is an international company that has taken advantage of the lax regulations in the Sudans to put its dollars ahead of the lives of local people.