Cabinet earmarks $78 million to mitigate impact of looming floods

The cabinet on Friday announced it will provide 78 million U.S dollars under it’s emergency flood preparedness and response plan to mitigate impact of looming floods on livelihoods and infrastructure across the country.
Dr. Jacob Maiju Korok, Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Service speaks to journalists on Friday, 12 July 2024 in Juba {Photo by Awan Achiek}

By Awan Achiek

The cabinet on Friday announced it will provide 78 million U.S dollars under it’s emergency flood preparedness and response plan to mitigate impact of looming floods on livelihoods and infrastructure across the country.

Dr. Jacob Maiju Korok, Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Service said the objective of the plan tabled before cabinet by Albino Akol Atak, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management is to enhance the country’s ability to prepare for anticipated disasters.

He told journalists after the cabinet meeting in Juba, that the government has to play crucial role in preventing loss of lives and reducing impact of the worst looming floods on livelihoods and infrastructure.

“So the plan sets mitigation measures that could actually prevent the disaster,” Korok said.

He said the plan outlined mapping of the higher ground areas where the flood affected communities could be relocated ahead of the floods.

Korok also noted that the emergency plan includes rehabilitation and construction of dikes along the river banks to prevent flow of water into residential areas, adding that it involves community engagement aspect to reduce potential inter-communal conflicts.

“You know during the floods when communities move to different places, it may actually trigger conflict,” he said.

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

 Uganda which neighbors South Sudan is expected to release 2,400 cubic meters of water per second following the rise in the water level of Lake Victoria in Jinja. The water level to be released is equivalent to 800 water tanks per second pouring downstream into South Sudan.

The States expected to be hit hard by the floods in July include Jonglei, Lakes, Unity, Upper Nile and Warrap State that are already experiencing unprecedented floods.

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