The United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says at least 380,000 people from six states in South Sudan have been displaced by flash floods.
According to the UN agency, violence, flooding, food insecurity and the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the need for humanitarian assistance in the country.
South Sudan has been struggling with communal conflict, plus the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and frequent flooding.
More than 1.4 million South Sudanese are displaced inside the country, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, according to a report by Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE).
The years-long civil war has contributed to an economic crisis and below-average harvest that continues to send food prices skyrocketing.
The result has been a food crisis that has seen 9,000 people losing access to food every day, according to UNOCHA.
‘People have been affected by flooding in six states since May, with Jonglei and Unity the most affected. Many of those affected moved to higher ground within their county and needed humanitarian assistance’, the UNOCHA report read.
‘Recurring violence in Tambura town, Western Equatoria, displaced thousands of people and impacted humanitarian activities. More than 58,000 people from Tambura remained displaced in eight settlements since June’.
UNOCHA noted that more than 10,000 people in the Juba County of Central Equatoria have been displaced by the conflict between herders and host communities.
‘Sub-national violence in Tonj East County, Warrap, displaced more than 5,000 people. Fighting between alleged rival military factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition in Manyo County, Upper Nile, displaced some 2,000 people’, it added.
‘Fighting between armed factions in Yei County, Central Equatoria, displaced 700 people. Additional funding is needed to respond to the growing needs as a result of widespread flooding and violence’.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in northern and central parts of South Sudan until mid-September, according to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) climate prediction.
Source: UNOCHA
Photo source: ConDev
