Warrap dispatches parliamentary committee to assess flood damage
October 10, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s state of Warrap has dispatched a parliamentary committee to assess the level of damage caused by floods due to heavy rains which caused rivers to burst their banks.
The head of the parliamentary committee, Dominic Deng Mayom said in an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune that 40,000 people in Tonj South County have been displaced from their homes due to the floods.
“People are on the roadside everywhere you go because there is no where they can go. Most of their houses have collapsed and crops have been submerged in water. Snakes are killing and diseases are breaking out”, said Mayom.
Mayom said in Thiet Payam a woman had drowned in flood water.
He named Pagol payam in Tonj north, Kirik Payam, Thiet payam, Wanh alel payam, Jak Payam, Manyang Ngok Payam, all in Tonj South and Palal payam in Tonj East counties, as the worst affected by the floods.
The legislator said the affected people are in need of urgent of food, medicine, shelter and blankets.
Arik Dut, a South Sudanese national working for a relief organisation in the flood affected areas said there was need for international support to compliment efforts of the South Sudan government in addressing the impact of the floods.
“This is the time to stand with the people especially when there is such a big disaster. The international community should come in with supplementary funds to what the government has availed in response to this tragedy”, said Arik Dut.
Joseph Anei Madoor, the director for public relations in the office of Warrap State governor’s office said his home town of Thiet has been submerged in water.
“The flood has reached its climax. Its impact has been tragic. 700 homes are ruined; the homes have remained for crocodiles and snakes,’’ he said.
Goats and chicken have not been spared. Many drowned in the flood water in Thiet.
The newly appointed Tonj County commissioner, William Wol Mayom said the stagnant flood water poses a health threat.
“The Standing water poses public health risk,’’ he said.
The commissioner said state officials who should be assisting those affected by the flooding have also been displaced as their office has been destroyed.
“Even our field office inside Tonj town has collapsed. We have become displaced now. We are coordinating relief activities in Kuacjok, capital of Warrap State. But we must not allow the flood crisis to become a forgotten emergency.”
“People affected by the floods are among the poorest and most vulnerable in South Sudan. More must be done to meet their immediate needs and help them cope with future disasters,” he stressed.
(ST)