Floods in Sudan’s Jonglei at “alarming level” – officials
By Philip Thon Aleu
July 28, 2010 (BOR) — At least seven (7) of eleven (11) counties in Sudan’s Jonglei state experienced severe floods, an assessment by Southern Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) released on Wednesday and obtained by the Sudan Tribune revealed.
At least five villages are demolished in one County. Shelters, schools and dykes and other flood related damages were reported.
Gabriel Deng, the Jonglei State Director for SSRRC described the flooding in Ayod, Bor, Duk, Akobo, Nyiror, Pibor and Twic East Counties as “alarming”.
“The heavy rains have caused alarming rising water level…in Jonglei Counties,” Deng said in a press statement.
“The situation is expected to worsen in the August as the rains [are due] to intensify,” he added.
The State officials “appeal to humanitarian agencies and donors” and argued what he describes as “contingency plans for Jonglei State” before a disastrous condition is created.
The SSRRC is the government of Southern Sudan body entrusted to monitor humanitarians’ conditions.
Commissioners of Akobo and Pibor Counties had made similar flooding warnings in separate interviews with UN sponsored Miraya FM radio in Juba recently.
However, the magnitude of the flood is murky since most of the areas in Jonglei are not accessible by road during the rainy season.
Pibor and Akobo Counties in Jonglei State have reported substantial crops and livestock damages. There are no reports of human casualties.
Akot Maze Adikir, the Commissioner of Pibor County, said five villages were smashed in Gurumruk and Lekuangole along with unspecified number of domestic animals.
Akobo Commissioner Goi Jooyul Yool put the number of people displaced in his County at 10,000 following mid-July rains that was amplified by Monday pouring rain.
In Bor town, the capital of Jonglei State, more than half of residential blocks are inaccessibly by cars. Block, 2 and 6 residents now walk barefooted with trousers rolled to dodge unnecessary mud. In less affected areas gumboots are still appropriately comfortable.
This year flood is repeat of 2008 Nile River overflow that affected Baidit Payam in Bor County. At the time, lorry drivers and boat peddlers were combined to the same traffic zone when roads were sunk to semi streams.
(ST)