Unity State: Child dies, thousands affected by Payinjiar County floods

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

August 21, 2012 (BENTIU) – A five-year-old child drowned in the Nyal area of Unity State’s Payinjiar County as heavy floods washed away around 100 villages over the last week, according to a local official.

Payinjiar County commissioner Peter Gai Joak said floodwater had destroyed over 2,000 homes just in Nyal Payam district, forcing many to abandon their homes after the main river broke its banks.

Local authorities is fear of waterborne diseases may affect the district, which is home to 10,000 people. The flooding began on 19 August, affecting around 30,000-40,000 people in Unity State, with 5,000 of those thought to be in Nyal.

Floods have been reported in many areas of South Sudan over the last week but Unity State has been particularly badly affected because of its swampy environment. Many crops in the area are reported completely destroyed by flood.

James Kuany Bol, who works with Catholic relief aid group SIGN OF HOPES based in Nyal told Sudan Tribune over Satellite Phone, that the areas two airstrips are now closed due to floods.

“Too many lives of civilians will be at risk in term of diseases due to flooding in the area”, Bol added.

Bol said local residents in Nyal had lost much of their crops due to the heavy rains.

On Tuesday the Unity State director for South Sudan Reliefs and Rehabilitation called on non-governmental organizations including UN agencies for an emergencies meeting to conduct an immediate assessment on areas affected by flooding around Bentiu town.

William Kuol Geng told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday NGO’s have come up with positive response to conducts joint assessment in areas like Daresalam, Kuerbokni, Biemrouk, Tietbar, Nyienypiu and neighbouring Rubkotna county.

He added that four teams are going on with the assessment in the areas worst affected around the state capital, Bentiu.

Geng said, according to the report he received this week, that over 30,000 households are at risk of flood within Bentiu town. He added that after the assessment is completed they will immediately deliver aid and provide assistance to the people affected.

“We have a fear of diseases during this rainy season, as so many people displaced by heavy rain within Unity State, we urged on health organizations to intervened with medicals assistance, food aid and non-food items for the victims whose house[s were] wash[ed away] by rain”, said Geng.

Roads connecting to the counties have been cut off since the state experiences hard hit by heavy rain. But the state’s SSRRC says together with UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will also push on the United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to provide air lifts so aid agencies can reach those in Payinjiar, Leer, Mayom and Guit County.

South Sudan has been campaigning for agriculture to boost food production and help improve food security. However, the current threats of flooding across some state’s makes it difficult to improve the country’s agricultural sector.

(ST)
, Payinjiar County, Unity State, South Sudan. (Source: Michael Kuany Bol / SIGN OF HOPES),https://sudantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jpg_p1150180.jpg|Flooding in Nyal Payam [district], Payinjiar County, Unity State, South Sudan. (Source: Michael Kuany Bol / SIGN OF HOPES),https://sudantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jpg_p1150198.jpg|Flooding in Nyal Payam [district], Payinjiar County, Unity State, South Sudan. (Source: Michael Kuany Bol / SIGN OF HOPES),https://sudantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jpg_p1150179.jpg|Flooding in Nyal Payam [district], Payinjiar County, Unity State, South Sudan. (Source: Michael Kuany Bol / SIGN OF HOPES),https://sudantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jpg_p1150140.jpg|Flooding in Nyal Payam [district], Payinjiar County, Unity State, South Sudan. (Source: Michael Kuany Bol / SIGN OF HOPES),https://sudantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jpg_p1150176.jpg|Flooding in Nyal Payam [district], Payinjiar County, Unity State, South Sudan. (Source: Michael Kuany Bol / SIGN OF HOPES),https://sudantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jpg_p1150116.jpg|Flooding in Nyal Payam [district], Payinjiar County, Unity State, South Sudan. (Source: Michael Kuany Bol / SIGN OF HOPES),https://sudantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jpg_p1150115.jpg|Flooding in Nyal Payam [district], Payinjiar County, Unity State, South Sudan. (Source: Michael Kuany Bol / SIGN OF HOPES)”]