Thousands of people displaced by floods in urgent need of shelter, food         

By Awan Achiek

Thousands of peoplewho have been displaced by recent floods in Bor town of Jonglei state are in urgent need of food and shelter.

John Matiop Achiek, Mayor of Bor Municipality said about 17,000 displaced persons have been resettled in higher ground areas, open space and schools in Bor town after heavy rainfall pushed them out of their homes.

He said the affected population is in urgent need of food and livelihood support.

“The Relief and Rehabilitation Commission is in communication with organizations to find ways to help these people. I think yesterday RRC had a meeting with partners and they are preparing to support them with food, medicines and tents,” Achiek told journalists in Bor town on Saturday.

Majority of the affected people are women and children currently sheltering in Royal Junior School and higher grounds in Bor town.

“I am now sheltering with 5 households. We lack tents, and many things like food and mosquito nets, and we also lack proper shelter especially during rainy season like this,” said Atong Malir, a mother of three whose home was last week submerged in water.

She is among thousands of people staying in Royal Junior School in Bor town.                                                                         

Malir said her belongings were swept away by water.

Mayor Achiek said most of the dykes that were constructed in Jalla payam to mitigate the impact of floods have broken down.

He said no casualties have been reported but thousands of houses and schools have been submerged.

About 2.6 million people have been affected by heavy floods over the last four years, according to the report of the National Relief and Rehabilitation Commission released in April 2023.

The report conducted between October and November 2022, said the worst affected states are Jonglei, Unity, Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap  states.