The Abyei Administrative Areas’ Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) says more than 10,000 households and hundreds of farms have been severely affected by floods.
Deng Juach Dau, Abyei RRC Director on Wednesday said, “We have around seven villages and sub-villages which are affected and they include Awal village with 2,658 households, Agok has 3,058 households, Abithok with 4,258 households, Agany-Achueng village has a record of 1,558 affected households, Agany-Tong with 91 households while Kadhian village has 110 households.”
The RRC official noted that the floods and insecurity have hampered the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Abyei.
“We don’t have the number of individuals affected but the format is five persons per household but some areas like Rumamer and Mijak counties have not yet submitted their statistics of damages and this is due to insecurity which occurred in the last two days,” he explained. “This insecurity too delays humanitarian support which is supposed to reach Awal and Abithok villages in terms of food and non-food items.”
The Paramount Chief of Alal County, Bith Ajak, states that farms in his county have been destroyed and there is a surge in the reported number of waterborne diseases.
“Rains and floods have affected every village. As I speak, the level of water is high in the farms and rivers and there is no production this year, especially in the areas along Kiir River like Mijak. It is destroyed and humans cannot settle there any more,” he lamented. “The livestock have died in large numbers.”
Chief Ajak is appealing to humanitarian organizations and local authorities to support the affected communities.
“I urge the Abyei authorities, South Sudan humanitarian ministry, and organizations to support people with both food and non-food items as people have lost their livelihoods,” he appealed.
Abyei’s Paramount Chief Bulabek Deng Kuol also reiterated calls to aid agencies to support flood-stricken communities there.
“The floods have affected everywhere in Abyei including forests and animals. Floods have also caused massive displacement in Nuer and Twic areas,” he highlighted. “Organizations should double their efforts to provide foodstuff to affected people.”