Over 40,000 Displaced as Floods Hit Jonglei and Pibor

By Jenifer James

Members of Parliament from Twic East and Pibor have raised the alarm over new flooding that has displaced more than 40,000 people in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

Speaking during the parliamentary sitting on Monday, Deng Dau Deng, the MP representing Twic East, reported that flooding in Pochalla County has reached unprecedented levels.

“I received a call from our commissioner in Pochalla County, who informed me and my colleagues that the River Akobo has burst its banks,” Deng said. “The river has inundated the entire town and surrounding villages. Even my colleagues, who participated in the liberation struggle and know Pochalla very well, say they have never seen the Akobo burst its banks before. However, this time, due to the heavy rains, the whole area from Pochalla South up to the Boma area has been flooded.”

Deng described the situation as a “natural crisis” and urged Parliament to recognise its urgency.

“I am raising this as an emergency, as an urgent matter, so that Parliament and the people of South Sudan know we have a crisis in Pochalla,” he said. “I am not asking for the minister to come here, but I request permission, together with my colleagues, to leave the sitting and go to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to make direct contact with those responsible.”

Similarly, David Okwier Akway, MP for the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, highlighted the flooding challenges in his constituency.

“Fresh floods have also occurred in the Pibor area due to the broken bridge and continued heavy rains,” Okwier said.

The MPs urged a swift government and humanitarian response to avert further displacement and suffering among affected communities.

Last week, there were fresh floods in various parts of the country, displacing people and forcing others to seek refuge.