JUBA, 13 September 2013 - The President of the Republic, H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit has called on the people living in the flood prone areas to remain vigilant as the latest hydro-meteorological reports indicate a steady rise in water levels and rainfall.
Most parts of the country are reportedly overwhelmed by floodwaters as a result of the heavy rains the country has witnessed in the last few weeks. The most hard-hit states are Northern Bahr el Ghazal with a total of 5, 882 households affected, Warrap with 10,000, Unity 8,355 and Upper Nile with 8,000 households affected. Lakes states and parts of Central Equatoria are reportedly also affected.
The president said the government is taking immediate measures to respond to the needs of the affected population. 7 million South Sudanese pounds he said has already be set aside to rescue the situation.
“Your government is deeply concerned with the suffering imparted upon you by this natural disaster and has taken immediate action towards finding temporary mitigation measures while also looking for long term solutions once we overcome the emergency situation”, the president said on Thursday. He outlined food, security, shelter water purification tablets, medical services information on floods and evacuation as being the immediate needs of the affected people.
A report by a nine-member taskforce formed to map, assess and propose immediate intervention plans indicates that approximately thirty seven thousand two hundred thirty eight (37, 238) households are affected according the president.
The president said the floods have swept farms and homes depriving most of the people of the affected areas of their livelihoods. Health facilities, livestock grazing areas and other public utilities, he said have also been rendered useless. The president further stated that floods- associated factors such as outbreak of diseases, hunger and general collapse of peoples’ coping mechanisms remain eminent.
Besides thanking the UN and other partners for responding to the emmergeny, President Kiir also called on the business communities, civil servants and partners to help the people affected with whatever they can during these difficult moments.
Please click here to down load the statement of the president.
Reported by Matata Safi