US aids South Sudanese flood victims

September 30, 2013 (JUBA) – The United States government has provided assistance worth $200,000 to flood victims in South Sudan’s states of Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Lakes, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap and Unity.

This immediate contribution, its embassy in Juba said, is in addition to the $60m it has so far given to the country as part of the rapid response fund for this year’s humanitarian assistance.

Since 15 September, the foreign disaster assistance department of its aid arm (USAID) has reportedly provided nearly $65,000 in Rapid Response Funds (RRF) to AWODA, a local NGO for emergency latrines, bathing shelters, and hygiene promotion benefiting about 7,800 flood-affected people in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

Funds worth $128,520, it further disclosed, have also been provided to another NGO, THESO, to undertake hygiene promotion and latrine rehabilitation at existing health clinics in response to flooding in Gogrial East and Tonj North counties of Warrap.

“The U.S. Government will continue to evaluate the situation and look at other ways to offer support as and if needed,” it assured in the statement.

Persistent floods, a government report showed, affected over 200,000 people, with Unity state said to be the worst-hit region. Others are Upper Nile, Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Gazal Warrap and some parts of Central Equatoria.

(ST)