Ayod flood victims in dire need of shelter, food

About 15,000 flood-displaced persons remain without food and shelter in Ayod County of Jonglei State, months after the floods destroyed their homes and livelihoods.

About 15,000 flood-displaced persons remain without food and shelter in Ayod County of Jonglei State, months after the floods destroyed their homes and livelihoods. 

The displaced, majority of whom are women and children, are currently settled in the county headquarters, Ayod town. 

“I arrived from the Weibuol area in November last year. We did not get any support since our arrival. We sleep in the open, and now the rains have started so we are appealing for shelters and food,” Nyajime Gatkuoth, a displaced mother of five, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday. 

Another displaced, Lam Madhak Diu, the Ayod County paramount chief, decried the worsening humanitarian situation, saying no one came to their aid since last year. 

“People came from the surrounding villages of Weibol, Wuoi, Beu, Kwacdeng, Wai, Padek, Karmuon, and Canal in their thousands due to the floods in July last year. Here, in Ayod town, there is no food, shelter, mosquito nets, and healthcare services,” Madhak said. 

The community leader added, “Access to clean water is even a problem. In the entire town, we are left with only one borehole after the other broke last night. So, we are appealing for help.”

For his part, Michael Lual, the Executive Director for Ayod County, also decried the desperate situation of more than 15,000 displaced and appealed for urgent humanitarian intervention. 

According to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), more than 400,000 people have been displaced from their homes in parts of the state after last year’s floods destroyed their homes and shelters.