Authorities in South Sudan's Unity State have warned of a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the state as devastating floods cut off roads to and from the state and threaten to submerge the Bentiu Airport.
Unity State information minister Hon Gabriel Makuei told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that if the situation continues the people will not access supplies especially food items from neighboring Sudan.
“The flood is going slowly by slowly to the airport. But the UN is trying to put around some dykes at the airport and the little water remaining will be scoped out from the airport," he said. “All the roads to Unity State are cut off by floods and the state government and the civilian in the state are trying to scope out floodwaters from the roads so that some vehicles coming from Sudan and the oil companies will pass."
Gabriel said all the roads linking Unity State with Sudan have been submerged by the floods stalling the movement of goods and services.
According to the UN World Food Programme, more than 750,000 people have been affected by flooding in 27 counties across eight states since May 2021. This is the third year of unprecedented flooding and the devastating flood situation, particularly in areas like Bentiu, Unity State, has aggravated need for humanitarian assistance.