More than a million people have been impacted by devastating floods across South Sudan, following relentless heavy rains, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). These floods have forced approximately 271,000 people to relocate to higher ground as rising waters inundate much of the country.
OCHA’s latest report highlights that the flooding has rendered 15 essential humanitarian routes impassable, severely disrupting the delivery of aid to affected communities. South Sudan, the youngest country globally, is experiencing one of its most severe flooding crises in decades, resulting in extensive displacement and widespread damage to infrastructure and livelihoods.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 58 health facilities are now underwater, with nearly 90 additional facilities currently inaccessible. Critical roads, including routes to the capital, Juba, have been cut off, further straining access to healthcare services.
Already hosting nearly 800,000 refugees and returnees from conflict in neighboring Sudan, South Sudan now faces an escalating humanitarian crisis. Suspected cholera cases have emerged in Renk County in the Upper Nile State, which is hosting the majority of the refugees and returnees. Malaria cases are also surging, with over 120,000 cases and 31 suspected deaths recorded in late September.
Snakebites have added to health risks, with 55 cases reported over five weeks. “People are increasingly vulnerable due to multiple crises,” stated Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, WHO’s representative in South Sudan. The WHO is collaborating with the health ministry and other partners to secure essential healthcare access for those affected.
BY: MOSES DESIRE KOUYO
