Flash floods have displaced more than 82,000 people in Mayom County of South Sudan’s Unity State since last month, officials said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the county coordinator for the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRC) Peter Kur Deng said that according to a recent assessment of the flood situation, the most affected regions include Ngop, Wangkey, Wangbuor, Bieh, Riah, Mankien, and other six payams.
He said those displaced are now sheltering on higher grounds in Mayom town and need humanitarian support.
“Many flood-displaced victims are now living in Mayom Town while others have gone to the highlands in Mankien payam”, Deng said. “The flood-affected communities are suffering and nobody has intervened in terms of humanitarian assistance.”
Deng also revealed that at least 30 cases of snake bites have been recorded with 10 casualties since September, adding that cases of waterborne diseases are on the rise.
“There are increased cases of malaria and diarrhea, mostly among children and the elderly. These two diseases are very common in Mayom county,” he noted.
Nyakuma Riak Koang, seeking shelter in the town said they have not received any humanitarian aid since May.
“We request humanitarian aid and the government to support us during this flood situation,” she pleaded.
The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) disclosed that heavy rains and severe flooding have affected more than 900,000 people across South Sudan since August.
It added that more than 600,000 people were affected by floods and torrential rains in 22 counties as of 30 September.
The rapid needs assessments report for September by OCHA shows that Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, Unity, and Western Equatoria are the worst affected areas.