Africa-Press – South-Sudan. At least 15,500 people have been displaced by severe flooding in Twic East County, Jonglei state, following two weeks of persistent heavy rainfall, officials said.
Entire villages have been submerged, forcing families to flee to higher ground. Local officials are calling for urgent humanitarian assistance as the situation worsens.
“Life-saving assistance is urgently needed — including non-food items, shelter materials, nutritional support and protection kits,” said Juach Arok, the Twic East County commissioner.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Commissioner Juach noted that communities in the area have faced recurring floods since 2020 and require sustained support.
Daniel Majok, a native of the area, criticized the government’s limited response, saying a recently constructed dike was primarily funded by humanitarian organizations, including the International Organization for Migration.
“During my recent visit to Panyagor and Wernyol Payam, I witnessed the suffering of women, children and the elderly,” Majok said. “Many communities have not yet received adequate support.”
Majok also cited recent funding cuts by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which have strained relief efforts across South Sudan. He urged both the national and Jonglei state governments to prioritize emergency aid.
James Mading Akueth, chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Jonglei, said about 25,700 people have been affected across the state, including 15,500 in Twic East and 10,200 in Ayod County. He said about 5,500 people have already been relocated to safer areas.
“The government’s priority is relocating displaced communities before relief agencies can step in,” Akueth said, adding that security forces are assisting with the evacuations. He warned that the flooding could worsen as heavy rains continue, with nearly all counties in Jonglei now affected.
Bol Deng Bol, chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network, urged authorities and aid agencies to respond swiftly.
“The entire population in the area has been affected — people, livestock and property have been displaced or destroyed,” he said. “Many are stranded on narrow dikes and roads, taking refuge in wreckage and facing exposure to diseases, snakebites and starvation.”
Bol appealed to the state government to identify safe, elevated areas for evacuation and called on the United Nations and humanitarian agencies to intervene.
Jonglei has been one of the states hardest hit by recurrent seasonal flooding in South Sudan, often caused by heavy rains and overflow from the Nile and its tributaries.
Poor road access and insecurity have hampered aid delivery. Experts warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of floods, worsening the crisis in already vulnerable areas.
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