By William Madouk
Central Equatoria state parliament members have expressed concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Mangala, Kondogoro, Jebel Lado, and Luri Payams after heavy downpours flooded the areas.
A member representing Northern Bari constituency, Thomas Peter said all areas in Northern Bari are affected and urged the Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management to intervene urgently.
“All areas that belong to Northern Bari are all affected by flood and people are now suffering and most of them are stranded because the area is not accessible,” said MP Peter.
“We urged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster to act swiftly and intervene in helping the flood victims,” he added.
Legislator Edward Dian Tongo, who represents Lado Payam, said about 3,000 households were displaced.
He added that up to now there are still many people who are stranded because they are cut off.
Another MP Mar-Allah Tartisio who represent Kondogoro said the area has experienced heavy downpour in the last two consecutive days which have destroyed farms, houses, and displaced people.
She said the situation is dire as people remain in the open after their houses are destroyed and expressed fear of waterborne diseases like Cholera.
“These places used to get flooded, but the communities do move outside to the high land but now those highland areas are no longer safe due to issues of land grab and unknown gunmen,” Mrs. Tartisio said.
“All humanitarian agencies should intervene now this a serious natural disaster and I urged them to help these flood victims,” she added.
To her, this flood has exceeded the average of the inundations that used to happen in those areas.
Also, Abdelrahim Albino, who represents the Mangala Payam constituency, said all four villages in the Payam are submerged by water.
“Currently, women and children are sheltering under critical conditions most of them are sheltering under trees. They are in urgent need of medicines, shelters, and food items so I call government, NGOs international and national to support them,” said MP Albino.
He added the figure is rising but also asserted that they will dispatch a team to go to the ground and assess the situation.