Thousands of the floods-displaced people seeking shelter in the Canal area of Pigi County in Jonglei State remain in a dire humanitarian situation without food since their arrival in January, an official said.
The flood victims, mostly women, and children fled their homes in Fangak, Nyirol, and other parts of Pigi.
Nyok Malual Mayik, the Pigi County commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that the displaced persons and the residents rely on wild plants and fish for food.
“The dry areas along the canal are where the displaced from Nuer areas and those from within the county settled,” he said. “There is no relief food and people rely on fish and floating vegetation.”
Commissioner Malual said the county is unable to meet the needs of the flood victims and called on the aid agencies to step in.
Nyaruai Keer, a representative of the displaced community, said she fled Fangak in January but was now starving in the neighboring Pigi County.
“I arrived in January and I have not seen grain for months,” she lamented. “There is no food and clean water and children are dying and we are helpless.”
Another displaced woman who identified herself as Elizabeth echoed Nyaruai’s lamentations and earnestly pleaded for humanitarian intervention.
For his part, Monyngok Abiel, the county’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) coordinator, said about 8,000 of the floods-displaced persons have had no food and access to clean water since January.
He also called on the aid agencies to intervene.