South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
Torrential floods have swept through Old Fangak town, displacing more than a thousand people and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the area.
The ongoing flooding crisis in Fangak County has displaced thousands after heavy waters destroyed key dykes in Old Fangak. Since 2019, persistent floods have plagued the region, posing a grave threat to human life, particularly to women, children, and the elderly.
Yoal Gatkuoth, the team leader of the Pan-African Peacemakers Alliance (PAPA Africa), urged the government and humanitarian agencies to intervene urgently after the devastating floods displaced over a thousand people in Old Fangak town.
In a statement to the media on Monday, Gatkuoth expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation.
“The flood has overtaken the town, and more and more people, including women and children, are affected,” Gatkuoth said. “Over a thousand women and children have been displaced and are now suffering without food, medicine, or shelter.”
He appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, the Ministry of Health, and humanitarian partners to respond swiftly.
“The people are in a dire situation. I appeal to the government and humanitarian partners to intervene promptly and support the displaced population with food, non-food items, medicines, and shelter,” he stressed.
Local residents also voiced their fears, stating that many families are sleeping in the open and are exposed to diseases.
The flood has left homes submerged, farmland destroyed, and access routes cut off, rendering thousands vulnerable as water levels continue to rise.
Mary Nyarieka Lorjok, a Member of Parliament from Jonglei State, raised an alarm over severe flooding in Old Fangak County during a parliamentary session on Monday.
According to Lorjok, the flood has trapped children and women in the water. She has called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to take urgent action and provide food assistance to the affected communities.
According to the latest ICAP weekly weather focus, several areas in northeastern South Sudan recorded rainfall of up to 16 mm, with 20 mm reported in Renk. Other regions receiving notable rainfall include central-eastern Ethiopia and central to central-western Sudan, with daily accumulations reaching 15 mm in El Fasher, 18 mm in Wad Madani, and Dessie, Ethiopia.
Looking ahead, very heavy rainfall is forecast across southern Sudan, northeastern South Sudan, western Eritrea, and northwestern to central-eastern Ethiopia.
Authorities have issued warnings of potential flooding in flood-prone areas, particularly in central-eastern Ethiopia, as well as central-western to central-eastern Sudan, northeastern South Sudan, and western Eritrea.
Last week, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation issued a warning about rising water levels, reporting that several stations, including Mangala, are expected to record water levels at or above alert thresholds.
Rising levels in Malakal and Anakdiar have reached high flood thresholds, increasing the risk of mild to moderate flooding downstream.
Communities in flood-prone areas, along with relevant partners, are urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautionary measures.
