Floods Sweeping Across South Sudan Displaces Multitudes

Floods raging across the countryside in South Sudan has already displaced over 76,000 people, the International Organization for Migration, said.

By Benjamin Takpiny

Floods raging across the countryside in South Sudan has already displaced over 76,000 people, the International Organization for Migration, said.

Overall, the floods have hit more than 735,000 people across 38 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area, the organization said in a situation report on the country.

According to the report by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs flooding, in the State of Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, all relief and rehabilitation commission county offices have reported flood- induced displacements.

It said joint partner assessments identified 3,546 displaced in Pochalla, 26,700 in Ayod, 55,349 in Twic East, 22,290 in Uror and 9,238 in Paguer, Fangak.

In Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, an inter-agency rapid needs assessment in Aweil East, West, North and South counties found 154,960 people severely impacted by floods, with Aweil East and Aweil South most affected , it said and that essential services have been disrupted, with 29 health facilities, 103 water points and 127 schools damaged.

The report said over 53,100 farmers and cattle keepers lost crops and livestock. Immediate needs include food, shelter, health, nutrition, WASH, education and protection services.

Likewise it reported that in Unity State, a rapid needs assessment in Koch County identified 36,278 flood-displaced individuals (6,046 households).

“Heavy rains on 23 September submerged classrooms in 11 schools in Ganyiel. In Mayom, floodwaters from Kaikang have inundated the local market, hampering daily activities,” the report said.

Upper Nile has been hit with areas like Tonga having an increased caseload of displacement from 3,500 to 5,707 individuals and that in Nasir County, 6,000 people displaced by floods and conflict urgently need life-saving assistance.

Maiwut County has 8,850 displaced people (1,475 households), requiring urgent WASH, shelter, food, nutrition and protection aid, it said.

Humanitarian partners are actively responding to the needs of flood-affected communities nationwide, the report said.

“In Jonglei, partners deliver WASH, health, non-food items and protection services, but gaps persist due to resource limitations. Community-driven dyke reinforcements, supported with sandbags and tools, have been underway since July, but additional resources are urgently needed for dyke rehabilitation and water drainage,” it said.

In Unity State dykes are being erected in Bentiu and Rubkona, and a partner is constructing a 1 km barrier to protect the Rubkona market, according to the report.

“In Upper Nile, life-saving assistance has been delivered to Tonga, and 49 MT of supplies have been mobilized for Nasir. In Maiwut, aid is being prepared in Malakal and will be airlifted with Logistics Cluster support. The UN and state technical teams are actively mitigating floods in Malakal through dyke construction and drainage efforts.”

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