Flood victims exceed 60,000, Unity State officials
By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
October 5, 2012 (BENTIU) – Living conditions for people displaced in both Mayiandit and Payinjiar Counties of Unity State are worsening as further flooding is destabilizes communities living in the area.
On Thursday the Unity State deputy governor Michael Chiengjiek Geay, South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission State Director and non-government organizations flew to the area for an assessment.
Cases of flood victims from both Mayiandit and Payinjiar reached 60,000 according to the officials in the counties. The recent trip to both areas by the authorities and NGO’s showed that thousands of lives are threatened by the floodwater.
Nyal payam [district] of Payinjiar County was completely flooded in July, August and September making crop production impossible. In September two children drowned and over 2,000 people displaced were displaced from the area.
Following recent flooding of 14 villages in Mayiandit County, where health clinics and schools are reported to be completely under water making it difficult to treat both snakes bites and waterborne diseases. Michael Chiengjiek Geay the deputy governor says they carried out an assessment with aid agencies to assess the damage of effected areas.
“We have actually took with us team of humanitarian agencies to go and see by themselves what the damages are and what is the needs to address this disaster problem. It is natural disaster and the state itself have declared it in several locations”, added Geay.
The state government is urgently looking for quick response from aid groups in order to assist the thousands of people affected in both counties. Geay said a team from the UN’s World Food Programme and other NGO’s are on the ground talking with people. But he says there is need for more immediate relief.
“The quicker they respond the better because the situation that we have seen ourselves yesterday it needs a quicker response, so by next week all teams will be on the ground”, the deputy governor said.
The flooding has been described as the worst ever to occur in the state, with increasing numbers of people suffering from snakes bites and growing fears of waterborne diseases spreading among the population. The authority says they have sent more drugs to the area to deal with snake bite victims.
“In fact we have taken with us yesterday some drugs at least to rescues the situation, so that is why the minister of health made a plan to have some drugs especially the anti-venom for the snakes”, Geay added.
The victim’s most urgent needs are mosquito nets, fishing equipment and drugs, according to the assessment.
(ST)