Between July and November 2020, the continuous rainfalls that occurred in South Sudan dramatically affected about 1 million people. The subsequent floods, described by the World Food Programme (WFP) as the worst flooding in the last 60 years of South Sudanese history, have left the local population without food, water, or shelter. While extreme weather conditions and climate-related events are beyond the South Sudanese people’s direct control, humanitarian assistance cannot be denied.
As humanitarian organizations report, the disastrous flooding occurred in the White Nile areas, affecting 37 South Sudanese counties, displacing more than 350,000 individuals, and killing about 100 people. The water has submerged entire villages, destroying houses, shelters, and properties and approximately 45% of the crops necessary to feed the local population. As pointed out by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), given the poor hygiene conditions and the contamination of wells, floods have also resulted in a rise in malaria cases and other diseases such as fever, diarrhea, and stomach infections.
While the local population has shown remarkable resilience and dignity, men, women, and children are in real need of assistance. People living in the most affected South Sudanese territories, namely Jonglei, Lakes, and Unity, have lost everything they owned. Due to the incredibly heavy rains, most of them have been completely isolated for various days, without any form of support.
The South Sudanese government, declaring the state of emergency, has immediately opened its borders to all humanitarian actors willing to offer support but, due to low funding, concrete results are still far from being achieved. According to estimates, more than $80 million is needed to tackle the damages caused by the floods, of which $46 million is for immediate assistance. Much still needs to be done: the South Sudanese population cannot wait any longer.
By Simone M. Russo