Over 700,000 affected by floods in South Sudan: UN

By Awan Achiek

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Thursday that more than 700,000 people have been devastated by flooding across the country.

OCHA said in a statement that as of September 5, flooding affected more than 710,000 people across 30 of the 78 counties.

“Flooding has affected more than 710,000 people across 30 of 78 counties in South Sudan and the Abyei Administrative Area,” it said.

OCHA noted that the floods have caused extensive damage to homes, crops and critical infrastructure, disrupting education and health services and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

It said that U.N. agencies together with partners have started distributing food rations targeting over 25,000 flood-affected people in Fangak County, Jonglei State.

“Access remains a critical obstacle, as many roads are now impassable, and floodwaters have cut off entire communities,” OCHA said.

It said the most urgent needs include medical care, protection services, shelter, and non-food items.

The country has since battled natural disasters, hunger, violence and continued political in-fighting that has repeatedly delayed promised elections, adding that the current floods are due to the rise in water level of Lake Victoria, the largest Lake in the region.

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

In July 2024, the cabinet approved 78 million U.S dollars under its emergency flood preparedness and response plan to mitigate the impact of looming floods on livelihoods and infrastructure across the country.

The fund is meant to enhance the country’s ability to prepare for anticipated disasters.