People in flood prone areas asked to move to high grounds

By Simon Deng

Thousands of people living in flood prone States have been asked to evacuate to high ground areas in order to stay safe amid the looming heavy floods.

“The forecast in Juba, Mangala, Bor and other 8 stations in South Sudan show that the water level in the river has reached maximum level, if the rains come in the river will not accept more water and the floods will flash out people,” said Peter Mahal Dhieu, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation on Tuesday in Juba.

South Sudan is expected to experience the worst flooding since decades following the release of water by Ugandan authorities in Lake Victoria, one of the largest Lakes in the world.

Dhieu said that the national ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management has already directed people in flood prone areas to relocate to high grounds.

“We put out alert to let our population living along the Nile River and all its tributaries to move away from those flood plain areas, it is serious and any rain that comes will have an effect on the lives of our people, crops and animals,” said Dhieu.

In May 2024, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said Uganda is expected to release 2,400 cubic meters per second from its dam in Jinja which is equivalent to 800 water tanks per second pouring downstream into South Sudan.

In South Sudan, most of the settlements including Gondokoro in Central Equatoria State, Duk in Jonglei, Awerial in Lakes, and Leer in Unity and Renk in Upper Nile State are expected to be submerged by water in September.