The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation on Tuesday appealed to the people living on lowlands and the banks of the Nile River to move to higher grounds to escape severe flooding.
Addressing reporters at a press conference in Juba, the Ministry Undersecretary, Peter Mahal Ohien, said the Nile was expected to burst its banks at any time as the water levels were rising.
“The riverine of floods has already started as we have the gauges in Juba, Mangala, Bor and other eight stations in South Sudan showing the maximum levels. We are declaring that flooding is expected to happen anytime because the river levels have reached the maximum,” Ohien said.
He warned that the situation could be worsened by the forecasted heavy rains and urged those living near the riverbanks to move to higher grounds.
“People have to move to higher grounds. That is the only solution, even if there are no houses, you have to move where you can save your life,” Ohien said.
“The rains that are coming will have an effect on the people, the crops and the livestock. It is forecasted from September to December and will cause flashfloods on the low lying areas on the two banks of the River Nile,” he said.
Ohien identified the areas likely to be affected as including Lologo in Juba, Gondokoro, Mangala, Terekeka, Aweirial, Minakaman, Shambe, Duk, Bor, Leer, Ganyeil, Panyijier and Renk.
According to the UN, an estimated 7.1 million people were experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity in South Sudan, mostly in locations affected by climate-related shocks, economic crisis, and conflict, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).