South Sudan Faces Devastating Floods: Over 11 Million Affected, Aid Efforts Hindered by Impassable Roads
October 22, 2024South Sudan is currently facing one of its worst flooding seasons in decades, affecting over 11 million people across the country.
The United Nations' humanitarian organization, Ocha, reports that more than a million individuals have been impacted by the severe flooding.
Rising waters have displaced over 250,000 people, primarily in the northern regions, as they seek safety from the floods.
In the eastern region of Pibor alone, around 112,000 individuals have lost their homes due to the relentless flooding.
Displaced individuals are attempting to find refuge on higher ground, but ongoing rains are complicating the delivery of much-needed aid.
Since the onset of the rains, 15 major supply routes have become impassable, severely hindering humanitarian assistance to approximately 500,000 people.
Joseph Nyao, the director of Relief and Rehabilitation in Pibor, noted that many fleeing to higher ground have done so without food or personal belongings.
The South Sudanese government is urging residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to designated safe higher grounds to avoid further displacement.
This flooding crisis is further exacerbated by ongoing humanitarian challenges stemming from the 18-month civil war in neighboring Sudan.
Since April of last year, over half a million Sudanese refugees and returnees have been registered in South Sudan, adding to the strain on resources.
In May, the government had warned the international community about the likelihood of exceptional floods affecting the country.
As flood waters continue to rise, the displacement of individuals remains an ongoing crisis.
Summary based on 1 source
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Source
BBC News • Oct 21, 2024
South Sudan flooding: A million people affected by rising waters