Juba. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that more than 8 lakh 90 thousand people have been affected by floods in South Sudan. Action has been intensified to deal with the devastating floods. The United Nations Relief Agency said in an updated report released on Friday in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, that so far about 2 lakh 26 thousand people have been displaced in 42 districts and Abyei due to the floods. OCHA was quoted as saying that South Sudan is facing unprecedented floods. Forecasts predict above average rainfall, overflowing rivers from Uganda and potentially record-breaking flooding.
The agency said access to affected communities remains a challenge due to poor road conditions. The update comes a day after South Sudan’s Council of Ministers endorsed the declaration of a state of emergency in flood-hit states. President Salva Kiir is expected to issue a proclamation soon to mobilize resources from international donors to aid relief efforts. The United Nations in September allocated US$15 million for immediate action to respond to floods in South Sudan. The floods began in May and have since caused damage to homes, crops and infrastructure. Apart from this, education and health services have also been disrupted.