By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Over 1,300 people have been displaced by floods triggered by heavy rains in Leer County, Unity State, according to the Community for Progress Organization (CEPO).
The affected areas include Adok, Yang, and Thonyor Payams, where the week-long downpours have destroyed homes and farmland. Residents who have fled to higher ground are now facing acute shortages of food, shelter, and other essential items.
Edmund Yakani, CEPO Executive Director, expressed deep concern over the situation, noting that despite early warnings from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), the government’s response has been inadequate.
“We are seriously concerned about the potential threats of the floods to our communities in the areas identified to be witnessing heavy floods,” Yakani said.
He added that Leer County was among the areas flagged by ICPAC in May as being at high risk of flooding during the June-September rainy season forecast.
Yakani attributed the recurring floods to changing rainfall patterns and urged the government to expedite the release of funds for resettlement and relief efforts.
“The Cabinet recently approved money for flood responses and there is a need to follow this money and make it available. Threats of Climate Change in terms of floods and drought in our communities a real humanitarian issues that require the government’s proactive role in availing funds for responses, livelihood for people in Unity state and other parts of the country is at stake,” he added.
Leer County has a history of flooding, with over 25,000 people affected in 2021. However, Yakani criticized past interventions for being selective and excluding people with disabilities.
“Any responses to the flood threats should take into account full response to the specific needs of persons with disabilities in the face of a flood. The previous interventions of flood response were not inclusive enough,” he concluded.
This marks the fifth consecutive year that residents of Unity State and other low-lying areas in South Sudan have been affected by floods.
Early this year, Uganda alerted South Sudan to get prepared for looming flash floods as it plans to release water downstream from its reservoir in Lake Victoria.
States most likely to be affected are Lakes, Upper Nile, Unity, and Warrap.