From Adia Jildo, in Juba
Several communities in South Sudan have come under the rage of floods lately.
South Sudan has been facing unprecedented floods since 2019, not thanks to the effect of climate change which has left many communities vulnerable as they are displaced massively and cut off from accessing the necessary basic needs.
Towns like old Fangak, an Island which hitherto was regarded as a safe haven during conflicts is no longer spared by the raging floods.
Located in Jonglei state along the river Pou/phow (Bahr-el-Zeraf), old Fangak is the capital of Fangak.
The recurrent flood is said to have displaced over 6,000 people from Chotbora Boma.
Over 4,000 affected people have been relocated to New Fangak with the support of youths in the community and non-governmental organisations.
Dykes constructed to prevent the flood from entering houses and help to connect communities have been broken due to rise in water level and the water strength breaking the dykes.
Juan Chuol Gatluak Teny, the County Coordinator for Fangak Relief and Rehabilitation Commission reported over 3,000 out of the 6,000 displaced people to be children.
“The situation in old Fangak is getting worse, when there are floods like this, people’s property are washed away, there is no food, all people now are suffering, no shelters,” said John the county coordinator for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission.
“The population has been forced to seek refuge in high grounds like New Fangak through boats and help from non-governmental organisations such as Medicine San Frontier.
“Some people are gathering grass and they cover it with plastic sheets, that is where they try to transport the children,” he said.
Some communities have taken shelter in schools, in churches and compounds of non-governmental organisations.
Over 3 million people are expected to be affected by floods and over 2.4 million expected to be in need of humanitarian assistance as flooding is expected to worsen by the later half of 2024 due to rising water level of lake Victoria and IGAD weather forecast for East Africa worsening the South Sudan’s existing humanitarian situation.
