Government earmarks $50 million to support flood victims

By Awan Achiek

Government said on Monday that it will release 50 million U.S dollars to help support people affected by heavy flooding in the country.

Albino Akol Atak, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management while appearing before the National Legislative Assembly, said the money will be used to procure food, medicine and non-food items for the affected population.

“The Ministry of Finance and Planning is set to release 50 million dollars to cater for the immediate needs of 1 million people as the initial target for early intervention for food, veterinary medicine and non-food items,” Atak said.

He estimated that 2.5 million across the country are expected to be affected by the floods this year, adding that the impact will include massive displacement, outbreak of human and livestock diseases.

“The floods will initially affect 2.5 million people with 1 million needing evacuation in more than 4 states,” Atak disclosed.

Atak said the government is going to set up health centers and mobile clinics to serve the affected populations, adding that they will also build the capacity of an early warning system on floods and drought.

South Sudan is expected to experience the worst floods following rise in water level of the largest Lake in the region, Lake Victoria, according to the Ministry of Water Resource and Irrigation.

Due to the rise of the water level in Jinja dam, neighboring Uganda is expected to release 2,400 cubic meters per second which is equivalent to 800 water tanks per second pouring downstream into South Sudan.

About 21 counties in Jonglei, Lakes, Unity, Upper Nile, and Warrap are expected to experience unprecedented floods from around July.