Floods leave people displaced, damage crops in Maban

Flooding from Yabus River in Maban has submerged Bunj, Shatta , Gism-Allah, Yusuf Batil, Jendrassa and Doro areas, and agricultural fields have been inundated by the floodwater, a local official and residents said.

Flooding from Yabus River in Maban has submerged Bunj, Shatta , Gism-Allah, Yusuf Batil, Jendrassa and Doro areas, and agricultural fields have been inundated by the floodwater, a local official and residents said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Acting Commissioner of Maban County Mumin Khidir said people in flood-affected areas have moved to higher altitudes, making it difficult for them to survive as floodwaters have damaged crops.

“The situation of people is very bad because their crops have been destroyed by the floods. Also, vehicles cannot move in those areas due to the devastating floods,” he said.

He pointed out that the county government had formed a committee to assess the damages caused by the floods. He revealed that two women and a child died from floods in Shatta and Gism-Allah areas.

“We have formed a committee to assess the situation of the affected people. It is also difficult for the committee to move because of the floods. According to the report we have received, two women and a child died due to floods,” he said.

The local official called on the humanitarian organizations and the state government to assist the flood-affected people.

Adil Tom El-Jar, a resident of Maban, said: “Our situation is very dire because of the floods. These days, people are suffering due to the lack of food. I am now displaced; I have moved to higher ground. We are here without any support.”

Meanwhile, Awatif Monyishal, a displaced woman, said: “We are just staying on the roadsides; we have left our homes due to floods. People have been given tarpaulins only. My message is to the government to take care of the people here in Maban. Our children are suffering; we need the organizations to support us.”

In March this year, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned that prolonged flooding and displacement in South Sudan were expected to worsen when the rainy season begins.

South Sudan had its worst flooding on record in 2021. More than 835,000 people were impacted, according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs.