Flooding affects more than 220,000 in South Sudan

More than 220,000 people have been affected by the flooding in South Sudan’s Unity State, according to the UN migration agency.

The floods have caused food shortages, malnutrition in children and a surge in the spread of various diseases.

Parts of South Sudan are experiencing their worst flooding in 60 years with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) blaming climate change for the disaster.

International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General Amy Pope described the situation facing the victims in Unity State as “almost unimaginable”.

“People have been forced to leave their communities, livestock has died, there is tremendous food insecurity, people are more threatened by things like malaria and other diseases,” Pope said while on a visit to the state, which is the worst hit region in the country.

According to the UNHCR, consecutive years of flooding have hampered people’s ability to cope with the crisis. The situation has been compounded by the threat of conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has battered the economy and social structures.

Most of South Sudan’s population relies on international food aid, while majority of basic services, like health and education, are provided by United Nations agencies and aid groups.

CGTN/Olajumoke Adeleke