UN seeks more funds for floods response in South Sudan

The United Nations relief agency said on Friday it is seeking additional funding to ramp up humanitarian response in South Sudan where flooding continues to impact people across the country.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said the UN relief agency has allocated 20 million U.S. dollars from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, with part of the allocation supporting flood response efforts, complementing bilateral funding sources.

"Some 760,000 people have been affected by flooding in areas along the Nile and Lol rivers and Sudd marshlands since May," the UNOCHA said in its latest Update on floods.

It said humanitarian organizations are responding to the immediate needs of flood-affected people with emergency response relief and community-based support.

According to the UN agency, some 294,000 people were reached with food assistance in September and October while some 174,000 people have been reached with shelter and non-food items support as of Oct. 31.

The UNOCHA said between May and Oct. 31, some 2,355 metric tons of assorted humanitarian cargo was transported by air, road and river.

"However, additional funding is urgently needed. Insecurity and access constraints also continue to hamper the overall flood response," it said.

The UN agency said close to 800,000 people have been affected to date by rising waters across the country since May.