The acting secretary-general of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has asked the national government to intervene and save the lives and property of the community displaced by floods in Unity State.

Peter Lam Both made the remarks during a visit to inspect the construction of dykes around Bentiu town on Saturday.

“We have come here and seen the level of disaster that has happened. Cows are dying because of water and people are not able to get access to basic materials for cooking,” Both said. “The water has taken everything. Our people have managed to build a road by putting dykes around the site and they are building the road to Mayom County.”

He called on the President Salva Kiir to look into the humanitarian disaster brought about by the floods and make a declaration about it and urged humanitarian agencies operating in the country to help support the government in saving the lives of the affected population.

Both also thanked Governor Joseph Monytuil Wejang and his team for the resilience they have shown in dealing with the floods.

For his part, Governor Monytuil who also doubles as the state SPLM party chairperson said that the people of Unity State will continue to rally behind the SPLM party for sustainable development to be realized in the state.

"I would like to declare that our next flag bearer in the 2023 South Sudan general elections is our able President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” he said.

The SPLM youth league deputy chairperson in Unity State, Ayar Deng, asked the people to support the implementation of the peace agreement.

“My message to you as a mother is that our president has signed a peace agreement and all of us have to stand by it to achieve peace and so that our country moves forward,” she said.

She urged the youth in Unity State to resolve their differences through dialogue and to support the government in the implementation of the peace agreement.

According to UNOCHA, an estimated one million people have so far been affected by the floods in 27 counties. Jonglei and Unity states are the most affected – accounting for 58% of people affected.

In December last year, the ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management was allocated USD 10 million to respond to the devastation caused by flooding in the country.