More than one million people have been affected by severe flooding in South Sudan, following relentless heavy rains that have battered several regions, according to the United Nations humanitarian agency.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Friday that approximately 271,000 individuals have been displaced across 42 of South Sudan’s 78 counties. The update, released in Juba, the nation’s capital, highlighted the dire situation unfolding in the country.
“Forty percent of the affected population is from Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Unity states,” the UN agency stated. Forecasts predict that the unprecedented floods could impact up to 3.3 million people between September and December, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis.
The persistent heavy rainfall and flooding have rendered 15 key supply routes impassable, severely restricting physical access to affected communities and complicating relief efforts.
South Sudan is confronting an unparalleled flooding disaster, with projections indicating above-average rainfall and increased river flows from neighboring Uganda. The OCHA warns that the country could face record-breaking floods in the coming months.
Compounding the crisis, South Sudan is listed among 18 global hunger hotspots where food security is rapidly deteriorating, according to UN reports. The floods threaten to worsen this situation by destroying crops, displacing families, and disrupting livelihoods.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
