South Sudan: Seven Million South Sudanese Pounds Earmarked for Flood Victims

By Abraham Garang Ajang., 11 September 2013Juba — Seven million South Sudanese Pounds (SSP7million) has been earmarked by the government to respond to the live saving needs of the people affected by the recent wave of floods in the country, a government official has announced.

Hon. Peter Lam Buth, Chairman of South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) while addressing reporters in Juba yesterday, described the effects of the floods as "severe" and said six out of the ten states in the Republic of South Sudan are affected by floods as a result of heavy down pours the country has experienced this year. The States of Warap, Unity, Northern Bahr Elghazal, Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Western Bahr Elghazl are the worst affected, he said.

"The challenge of the SSRRC over the years has been that we really never had a budget to respond to crisis. What has happened in the past was that we get donations from foreign governments and we try to use that donation to respond to some small level crisis and our partners both United Nations Agencies and International Humanitarian Organizations and our local National organizations have been responding to most these crisis" Hon. Buth remarked.

The Commission, he said is working tirelessly in collaboration with the local and international humanitarian agencies operating in the country as well as the offices of South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in the ten States to response to the needs of the flood victims.

Hon. Buth said an assessment carried out in Warrap state indicate that five thousand eight hundred and sixty two individuals are affected in Tonj North while three thousand four hundred and ninety five in Tonj South counties. Another five thousand eight hundred and sixty two people are affected in Tonj East while a number of one thousand four hundred and ninety eight individuals are affected in Gogrial East County. Also five thousand three hundred and forty eight people are affected in Gogrial West County. Tonj County has a number of two thousand nine hundred and seventy two individuals affected.

Buth said his commission has so far provided the victims with non-food items that include plastic sheets, tents and mosquito nets, adding that the International Organization of Migration IOM has provided most of the non-food items to the region. The Commission has also sent five hundred inject able anti malaria drugs which were donated earlier by the Chinese Government.

The SSRRC Boss said that the main challenge facing rescue operation is lack of roads to access the affected areas. The Commission, he said is working closely with the World Food Programme's Humanitarian Air Services HAS and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan UNMISS in ferrying assistance to the victims by helicopters.

According to reports reaching the Commission from SSRRC offices in Unity State, the flood has affected fifty six thousand individuals in Painyijar County while a small number of six hundred people are affected in Pariang County. Rubkona area where the State capital Bentiu is located is also affected. Peter Lam said the Commission has responded by sending water and sanitation kits to the flood victims and distributed food items. Painyijar area is not by accessible by roads and that preparations are going on to reach the victims.

The affected areas of the Upper Nile Sates are Maiwut, Ulang, Baliet Counties and some parts of Naser County. The SSRRC has responded by sending to those areas some food items. The affected areas in Western Bahr Elghazal State are Raja and Wau towns where six hundred persons are affected. Blankets mosquito nets, cooking utensils and food items were distributed to the affected population.

The only County affected by the flood in Northern Bahr Elgahza state is Aweil North with six thousand individuals in dire need of help. The assessment of needs has been carried out and the respond in form of water and health sanitation kits is on the way to area.

The flood affected area In Jonglei State is Akobo area with minimum destruction to the people properties. According to Lam Buth, local resources available in the hands of the citizens managed to address the need of those affected. The flood has also hit Bor Town, the State capital of Jongolei.