21'000 people affected by floods at risk of hunger assisted in Ganyiel

Massive flooding that residents say they haven’t seen before have left hundreds of thousands of people displaced with little or no means to survive across different parts of South Sudan. In the area of Ganyiel, Unity State, affected people are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. “I am now 48 years. I have never witnessed such kinds of floods in my entire life. If these floods continue like this, nobody will stay around Ganyiel," said James Boarwun, a community leader in Ganyiel, Unity state. “All animals have died, food has been wiped out. People are tired and had sought refuge on higher grounds. We are suffering,” he said. The South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC), with the support of the ICRC, recently assisted the most vulnerable communities in the area.

According to the latest statistics, over a million people have been impacted by the floods in South Sudan this year. Among them, over 481’000 have been displaced. Roads are cut off, entire villages and towns are submerged, houses and health facilities have been damaged. People that had to leave their homes are seeking refuge in higher ground. They have insufficient food, are showing signs of malnutrition and are at risk of waterborne diseases due to lack of access to safe drinking water. They were also left without essential household items as all their belongings were swept away by the floods.

In the area of Ganyiel, Unity state, accessing the communities displaced by the floods required a tremendous logistical effort. The assistance has to be dispatched and carried on small canoes, to reach the most vulnerable communities in the remote areas, inaccessible by larger boats or air transportation. “In the first place, we were targeting Ganyiel, because it is near the river bank. But then the floods got worse in September, it affected the whole of Panyijar County”, said Chuol Maker, South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) team leader.

“In Ganyiel, it is estimated that over 50,000 people have been affected by the floods”, explained Guit Matthew, ICRC Economic Security officer. “Together with the South Sudan Red Cross Society, early December, we have been distributing food to 21'000 most vulnerable people in the area. This assistance included sorghum and cooking oil. “Together with the South Sudan Red Cross Society, we distributed food, sorghum and cooking oil. We also distributed essential household items such as kitchen sets, blankets, mats, tarpaulins for them to be able to set up for themselves temporary shelter.”