By Ijoo Bosco
Lafon County Commissioner, Magisto Ukach, has reported that over 18,000 people have been affected by floods in the eastern payams (administrative divisions) of his county in Eastern Equatoria State.
Addressing journalists in Torit on Thursday, Ukach stated that majority of the affected areas are in the Marguna, Burgilo, and Kurumi payams, where most households and Indigenous farms have been submerged by the floodwaters.
“As per the report of August 20th, 2024, we have a total of 18,178 people affected by the floods. The households and farms in the four payams, especially in the eastern parts of Lafon, have been seriously affected,” Ukach said.
The chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Eastern Equatoria State, Okuma, stated that the task force team is working to address the situation on the ground and in other affected areas.
He also emphasized the ongoing awareness campaign to encourage citizens to relocate from low-lying areas to higher ground to mitigate the risks posed by the flooding.
“We are now looking together with our partners and the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) cluster. We have already reminded them, and they are working on mobilizing water filters and other non-food items to be immediately provided to the affected population. The national flood task force is also involved in the response efforts,” Okuma explained.
The flooding in Lafon County is the latest in a series of natural disasters that have affected various parts of South Sudan in recent years.