Fresh floods have cut off Akoka County from the rest of Upper Nile State, leaving a large number of residents without access to basic services.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Wai Thielbuon Kuek, the acting Akoka County commissioner, said the floods displaced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and rendered the county inaccessible by roads since mid-December.
“The floodwaters come from the River Nile and the Sobat River. In the areas of Rom and Biecheng, several homes have been submerged in floods. Close to 16, 000 people have been affected by the floods.”
He added, “Also, We are cut off for four days now from the state capital Malakal. This means no one goes to access basic health care services and other needs from Malakal town.”
The local official appealed to the government and aid agencies operating in the country to intervene.
Nyok Bol, a resident of Akoka County, said livelihoods have been destroyed and that the situation will worsen in the coming weeks if they get no support.
“The only way forward is for the government to intervene. For you to go to Malakal is through the river. Roads are completely impassable. We get no services and floods are destroying homes and livelihoods,” he stressed.
Ajak Wer Lual, the state secretary-general, said floodwaters have continued to increase in parts of the state over the past few weeks, leaving the locals homeless and without access to basic services.
“Areas of Akoka and Bailiet are cut off by the floods. Floods is a big threat to the people of Upper Nile. Before there was a free movement but now people cannot move. For us in Malakal, we cannot get goods and no one comes to Malakal to seek medication. “
For his part, James Majok, the state Relief and Rehabilitation Commission deputy director, decried the humanitarian situation in Upper Nile and urged the national government and aid agencies to intervene.