Severe flooding compounds health crisis in South Sudan: WHO
October 21, 2024 (JUBA) – South Sudan is witnessing some of its worst flooding in decades that has caused widespread devastation in several parts of the country, leaving more than 226 000 people displaced, homes, livelihood impacted with roads and key infrastructure submerged and several communities devastated.
The floods, according to the United Nations, have affected 42 of South Sudan’s 78 counties. Already 58 health facilities have been submerged in five counties and nearly 90 others are inaccessible with about 15 main roads cut off, including those that link to the capital Juba, where tertiary health services are available.
As of 4 October 2024, a total 890 000 people in flood-affected counties have reportedly been impacted.
Although heavy downpours during the country’s rainy season between April and November often trigger floods, they have become increasingly severe due to climate change, stretching communities’ ability to cope with the devastation and in some cases caused permanent displacement of communities.
The floods, WHO said in a statement, have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan where nearly 800,000 refugees and returnees have fled armed conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
To compound to the already dire situation, two suspected Cholera cases have been detected in Renk County, in the country’s northern Upper Nile State, through which 60% of refugees and returnees enter South Sudan.
Also on the rise is Malaria, with over 120,000 cases and 31 suspected deaths reported at end of September.
“People are in a heightened state of vulnerability due to multiple shocks. WHO is committed to work with the Ministry of Health and our partners to ensure that they have access to essential health services continue while also prioritizing the response to growing humanitarian and health needs,” said Dr Humphrey Karamagi, the WHO Representative in South Sudan.
Meanwhile WHO said it has so far distributed about 88 metric tonnes of emergency health kits to key locations including Renk, Bentiu, Malakal and Bor counties to assist flood-affected communities. The kits, it added, can treat over 870,000 people and include critical medical supplies such as interagency emergency health kits, cholera investigation and treatment kits, antimalarial drugs and snakebite antivenoms.
WHO said it has distributed almost 1300 malaria kits nationwide since January 2024 and prepositioned 20 cholera investigation kits and 9200 stand-alone cholera rapid diagnostic tests, which can test 9400 samples.
The health agency is working with the Ministry of Health in South Sudan to scale up the response to this complex and growing health emergency, in addition to coordinating the emergency health response collaboration with partners and recently oversaw an initial needs rapid assessment in Cueibet county of Lakes state.
“In coordination with partner organizations, WHO is continuing to monitor the health impacts of floods, with a focus on vector-borne and water-borne diseases. Within the affected states is also coordinating on-the-ground flood response to ensure emergency health assistance reaches the people in need,” it stressed.
To mitigate the impact of climate change, WHO is reportedly supporting countries to develop and implement measures to better cope with climate and environmental change impacts on health systems, track national progress in protecting health from climate effects and reduce health systems’ carbon emissions.
Furthermore, the UN health agency is advocating for sustainable investment to build resilient health systems and infrastructure to better withstand climate shocks and protect vulnerable communities.
(ST)