Authorities in Upper Nile State have said that the flooding that hit Renk city in the early hours of Friday caused great damage to property and displaced thousands of residents.
Renk County Commissioner Akoch Jol Achiek told Radio Tamazuj on Saturday that the floodwaters submerged 12 neighborhoods, forcing 11,711 residents to leave their homes for higher places amidst poor humanitarian conditions.
The Commissioner added that his government was making efforts with organizations to assess the urgent needs, especially medicine and shelter, of those affected.
“We are studying several options to relocate citizens affected by the floods, including the Madakon and Goz Rom areas,” he said.
Achiek made an urgent appeal to the State and the National governments and aid organizations to quickly provide humanitarian assistance to those affected.
One of the residents affected in the Al Salam neighborhood, Nyok Lul, called on the government to find solutions to the Khor Asher floods or relocate the populations to higher grounds because the tragedy was recurrent.
“The Commissioner and a number of organizations visited us but we are yet to see anything happening. The people are still suffering,” he said.
A resident of Abayok neighborhood, Raela Stephen, appealed to organizations to provide urgent assistance because the situation had become difficult with the majority of the residents now in the open and without food.
“We are suffering, she said, adding, “many families are now living in the open with no shelter, medicine or food.”