Over 200,000 displaced by floods in South Sudan

South Sudan is appealing for help to provide relief to more than 200,000 people displaced by floods along the Nile River.

A heavy downpour in most parts of the country, but majorly along the Nile, has seen thousands of families lose homes and livelihoods, adding to a situation that had been worsened by sporadic communal fighting.

Reports indicate that the flooding has mainly hit the Greater Jonglei Region, in the central of the country, home of the vast Sudd swamp, considered a lifeline by southern communities.

Peter Mayen, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management told the media that families are in dire situations.

“We are experiencing this horrible disaster. My current appeal is to all humanitarian agencies to immediately assist those affected through provision of food and medical assistance,” he said.

Mabior Atem Mabior, Jonglei State General Secretary, told the East African on Wednesday that he worried children, women and the elderly had been exposed to health hazards as they slept on bare ground with limited access to clean water and mosquito nets.

“Flash-floods have severely affected the local population here. It’s a horrible situation to explain. It became worse when the dyke was broken. Waters washed into buildings across the State capital and as I speak, things are getting worse,” he said.

“I have briefed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and we are expecting their immediate response. Am also appealing to humanitarian agencies to immediately shift their response to this area and help the needy,” added Mr Mabior.

 “If humanitarian responses such as support of basic needs and medical supplies delays, many locals will be left in an extreme situation which includes the spread of waterborne diseases,” said one of the residents in the area.

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