Authorities in Bor, the Jonglei State capital, have launched efforts to open channels in response to the escalating floodwaters that were threatening the town.
Mayor John Tiopic Achiek told Radio Tamazuj that that the Nile River had surged to dangerous levels, closing the town’s main dyke and prompting immediate action to prevent a repeat of the devastating 2020 floods.
“We anticipated the rise in Nile water levels and prepared by reinforcing the main dyke around Bor,” Achiek said.
“Our immediate concern now is rainwater, which has already impacted several areas, including Panjak, Nigel, Achengdiir, Lekyak, Block 6 and 5, and Langbaar A. To address this, we have deployed four excavators to open channels and are working on fixing culverts.”
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has urged residents in the low-lying areas and along the Nile’s banks to relocate as the river was expected to overflow.
The Ministry Undersecretary, Peter Mahal Ohien, warned that several areas, including Lologo in Juba, Gondokoro, Mangala and Bor were at a high risk of severe flooding.
The UN has reported that around 7.1 million people in South Sudan were facing acute food insecurity, exacerbated by climate-related shocks, economic instability, and ongoing conflict. The situation remains dire as authorities continue to mitigate the impacts of the flooding.