South Sudan Floods

On September 6, 2021, thunderstorms hit South Sudan, causing floods in Unity, Jonglei, and surrounding areas. The early seasonal rainfall led to an increase in water levels, resulting in the Nile River rising at least 16 centimeters. Seventeen villages were swept away entirely, along with large areas of agricultural land and a multitude of farm animals. In total, an estimated 53 villages were affected by the flood. Thousands of families hurriedly evacuated their homes on roads that were eroded by the flood. The flood came from all different directions and resulted in prices of products skyrocketing.

Torrential rains on Monday lasted for hours and led to an overflow of water. Some water descended from the Um Dalous streambed, covering an area 10 kilometers wide with around a meter of water. The flood immediately cut off several roads, such as the Atbara-Haya-Port Sudan road and the West Nile road, also threatening the road linking Sudan with South Sudan. Many houses, including the thatched huts some citizens lived in, and bridges were partially or entirely collapsed due to the flood. Although there were no casualties, the flood displaced thousands of people who now live with relatives or in tents on higher ground.

In South Sudan, a country that has recently been dealing with one of the worst food crises since its independence, the situation has become even worse. The flood obstructed the transport of goods and slowed down agricultural production, causing the price of food to skyrocket. The flood also washed away many of the plants that individuals have been growing. This, combined with the country’s already high level of poverty, means that the majority of the survivors won’t be able to afford food. Organizations such as the OCHA have been attempting to help, but due to their limited funding, they have not been able to provide the ideal amount of supplies. Sometimes, people living in the flood-affected areas of South Sudan had to wade through the flood in search of food. Food convoys and supplies have also been looted, adding to the difficulty of providing sufficient food resources to those in need.

In response to the flood, officials sent out several more boats to rescue people who have been stranded by the water. Some humanitarian groups attempted to help the victims of the flood by providing resources, but these efforts are again limited by the lack of funding and accessibility. Aid workers struggled to reach areas that could not be accessed from the road, all while fearing natural disasters and human attacks. Aside from providing supplies, engineering efforts are also underway to strengthen embankments and determine damages. If you’d like to help as well, please consider donating to the charities linked below. Both will aid the current flood crisis in Sudan.

Charities

• UNHCR

• Islamic Relief USA

References

• Dabanga. (2021, September 7). Villages and farms swept away by flash floods across Sudan. https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-rainy-season-villages-and-farms-swept-away-by-flash-floods

• Dabanga. (2021, September 9). Sudan- Floods cause devastation in White Nile state. Floodlist. https://floodlist.com/africa/sudan-floods-white-nile-state-september-2021

• France 24. (2021, August 31). Hundreds of thousands affected by heavy floods in South Sudan, says UN. https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210831-hundreds-of-thousands-affected-by-heavy-floods-in-south-sudan-says-un

• Francis, O. & Kleinfeld, P. (2021, August 23). Fighting, flooding, and donor fatigue; Unpacking South Sudan’s food crisis. The New Humanitarian. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2021/8/23/funding-gaps-looting-hinder-south-sudan-food-crisis-response

• Hendawi, H. (2021, September 9). Thousands flee as villages are flooded south of Sudan’s capital. The National News. https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2021/09/09/thousands-flee-as-villages-are-flooded-south-of-sudans-capital/

• Relief Web. (n.d.). South Sudan: Floods. https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-2021-000108-ssd