Late Ambassador Leon Theodoro (Photo: Courtesy).

The family of Ambassador Leon Oyak Theodoro, who died in the United States last week, says it has failed to raise enough money to bring back remains of the diplomat.

Ambassador Oyak Theodoro, 67, passed away on November 8 in Omaha, Nebraska US, after battling cancer for more than four years.

The victim’s cousin, Lino Deng Genaro said the family needs 17 thousand US dollars to transport his body as well as his bereaved wife and children to Juba.

But Deng, who is the former governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal says they could hardly raise the amount.

“We want he’s body to be brought to Juba, just we can bury him, and we have nothing in our hands,” he told Eye Radio.

Deng said the Director-General in the Ministry of Finance and Planning has promised them one million South Sudanese pounds, which are not enough to cover for the trip.

Late Ambassador Oyak served at the South Sudan Embassy in China for four years before he became ill.

According to the late ambassador’s relative, the country’s foreign ministry has not rendered any assistance.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is telling us negative, that nothing can be done and there’s no fund and in our current situation we are failing to do whatever that we can do.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not immediately reachable for comment.