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Sudan Tribune

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South Sudan appeals for humanitarian assistances for flood victims

September 7 2010, (MELUT) – On Tuesday the regional government of southern Sudan on reiterated its appeal for humanitarian assistances for victims of the floods swamping State of Northern Bahr el Ghazal

An IDP SSouthern Sudanese eats tree leaves during the visit of U.N Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes in Akobo town in south Sudan's Jonglei state May 8, 2009. (Reuters)
An IDP SSouthern Sudanese eats tree leaves during the visit of U.N Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes in Akobo town in south Sudan’s Jonglei state May 8, 2009. (Reuters)
James Kok Ruea, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management made the appeal on Tuesday after visiting flood-hit areas in Aweil town, capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.

Ruea said the visit was meant to obtain first-hand information about areas affected by the floods as well as putting emergency plans in place as part of efforts to respond to the affected individuals.

He said going to the affected areas and witnessing the suffering of the communities, as a result of the disasters, led him to understand the situation better.

“The loss of infrastructures has been seen as well the destruction of house. Many families have been evacuated and people are living in swamps and waterways,” he said, adding that solutions to alleviate the situation were being sought.

A representative from International Rescue Committee (ICRC) also told Sudan Tribune that he was impressed by authorities, after inspecting the different areas and talking to affected individuals.

“I was very much impressed when I saw a high level government delegation arriving straight to the flood affected areas. This gives the victims courage to cope with the disaster.”

“We are here as partners in development and we are very pleased to be included on the on the tour to look at the effects of flash floods that hit these areas in the past few days. We are here to assist in whatever we can in that process. We worked closely with officials both at regional and national level,” said the ICRC representative.

Aweil South County is one of the counties with the heaviest floods in the area. Gar Gar Adim, a director with South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission told Sudan Tribune on Monday that a assessment committee which visited affected areas and is still working on the report.

“The assessment committee which visited Aweil South, one of the most affected counties in the state, is still working on the report. We received a report from county commissioner, Major Jel Mangok, stating that in the county headquarters alone, a total of 250 families covering 2470 people were affected by the flash floods. It is also reports that 176 families in Panthou have been displaced during the 24 hour torrential downpour that hit part of greater Aweil South County,” explained Adim.

Expressing his sympathy for the victims, Adim said he and his team are working hard to ensure that they receive assistance.

He described Sunday’s rain as the heaviest recorded so far in the state this year, while attributing the catastrophic results of the incident to the fact that some of the affected individuals are occupying waterways.

He said it is predicted that there will be more rainfall in the coming days, and advised people to settle in suitable areas to avoid floods.

(ST)

2 Comments

  • AUGUSTINO DENG
    AUGUSTINO DENG

    South Sudan appeals for humanitarian assistances for flood victims
    I don’t really no when should our Government of Southern Sudan works hard to fight for this starvation affecting the whole Southern Sudanese people? I hit when I hear that “the Southern Sudan Government is appealing for humanitarian assistances”. Where did the Southern Sudan Government put the budgets? In the pocket? Shame to the Government of Southern Sudan especially the president and his ministers who are consuming the budgets.

    By the way, did the Southern Sudanese president and his ministers saw those pictures of the starving women from Akobo? How do these pictures look to them?

    Reply
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