By John Akoon
Residents of Aweil town in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State are expressing deep concern over lack of shelter for flood victims. Many people who have been displaced, are currently camping along the roadside.
In interviews with No. 1 Citizen Newspaper, several residents appealed for urgent assistance from the state government and non-governmental organizations. Their key request is for tents and essential sleeping materials.
Moses Bol, a resident of Hai Salam, shared a distress, stating that his entire family has been forced from their home, to sleeping on the ground in the open.
“The only problem facing us is shelters. The flood has submerged our house. So, we have been sleeping on the streets here, without shelters,” Bol said.
“I am appealing to the well-wishers and our state government to look into the issues of shelters and other sleeping materials like mosquito nets,” he added.
He further recounts that the majority of the children of flood-affected victims are battling malaria cases and waterborne diseases, emphasizing the need for mosquito nets supply.
“Most of the children are suffering from malaria, which might be the cause of mosquito bites and harmful insects. So, we need more support from both well-wishers and state government,” he appealed.
Mary (Not real name) a mother of six children who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation, expressed frustration with the state government’s failure to provide them with shelter and other necessities.
“We struggle to make small tukul, but the available space is insufficient to accommodate us after being displaced by flood at Malou Awer residence,” she said.
“We have been hearing that the state government has been working to allocate enough space and provided us with tents and mosquito nets, but nothing has been done to rescue our situations,” she added.
Heavy flooding in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state has caused displacement and devastation to the majority of the residents.
According to a recent quick needs assessment report dated August 29, 2024, published by humanitarian organizations working in Aweil East county of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, approximately 28,900 households have been affected, resulting in displacement of 99,732 individuals.
Last week, the state governor, Simon Ober, launched the distribution of Relief Food to flood-affected victims in Aweil Town.
According to the office of the Governor, the distribution of Relief food has targeted about one thousand five hundred households displaced by the flood.
“The distribution primarily targets the most severely flood-affected households, with each household receiving 25 kg of maize flour while a 50kg sack of rice was shared between two households,” noted the Office of the Governor.