South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Mayak Majak Madit Tokjok
The State Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairperson of the Flood Taskforce in Lakes State, Mathiang Deng Monydit, has warned of alarming flood threats this year, following last year’s devastation that displaced many cattle and destroyed crops in counties such as Rumbek East, Rumbek Centre, Cueibet, Yirol West, and Awerial.
He called on the public to remain patient as the state government enhances community awareness and collaborates with humanitarian agencies to provide support, including shelter and essential aid, to displaced families.
“The people from other counties may migrate to higher ground with their cattle, and some schools may also face displacement due to flooding. In this situation, there may be no available land for people in those counties to relocate their animals or continue their studies. This could lead to land disputes among communities, resulting in communal conflicts.,” Monydit said during his opening remarks at a two-day training session on Thursday at Hillview Hotel.
He urged farmers to cultivate short-term crop varieties that can yield within 2–3 months before flooding occurs .
Mrs. Betty Scopas, Director General of the National Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, stated that community awareness is essential for prevention, mitigation, and preparedness regarding floods.
She said that the Humanitarian Disaster Management team is focusing on early intervention.
“We need to provide weather forecasts to our communities, including information on water levels. If we inform communities about rising waters in the Nile, they can move to higher ground, especially those living along riverbanks and other streams that may be affected during heavy rains,” she explained.
She noted that preparing communities is a vital climate change adaptation approach. When communities understand the risks, they can take measures, such as moving to higher ground, digging drainage channels, and maintaining dykes.
“If these preparations are identified as necessary, they must be addressed. This will assist in implementing mitigation measures, with support from our partners in community and dyke construction. Together with the government, we will be able to pre-position medical supplies and other emergency resources to support communities in case they are cut off from accessing medications,” Scopas added.
However, Scopas emphasised that the country, particularly Lakes State, must prepare for the challenges posed by the rainy season. The risk management committees need to be vigilant, as flooding has significant impacts on communities.
“People should be aware that waterborne diseases are caused by stagnant water. It is crucial to work hard to prevent these illnesses. Awareness efforts must be inclusive, ensuring that individuals with disabilities are also reached. Strengthening institutional and technical capacities for climate risk management is essential to provide the public with accurate and equitable information.”
