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Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices

By Ngor Arol Garang

September 13, 2011 (JUBA) – Heavy rainfall in Northern Bahr el Ghazal have forced thousands from their homes in Aweil town, the state capital, as swollen rivers washed away roads making rescue efforts difficult, government and aid officials said on Tuesday.

“The number of people affected by the floods has more than doubled in the last four days. We have sent teams to do more accurate assessments of the situation, but we do feel it’s going to get worse,” Deng Kuel Kuel, a director with the South Sudan’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in the state, told Sudan Tribune by phone from Aweil on Tuesday.

Kuel said in the most severely affected areas of Hai Salam, Makuac Aweit, Maper, Deng Nhial and Ayuang a lot of people have been forced out of their homes.

Some of the areas are in “critical state,” said the state’s relief official, adding that around 18,000 are homeless.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal, is one of the ten states of South Sudan that has been hit by the rising food prices, largely blamed on the halt of trade from North Sudan following southern independence.

The state is haunted by memories of floods last year, which brought widespread disparagement of the government because of its slow response. The authorities have requested 15 million South Sudan Pounds ($5.6m) to support town planning operations including setting up proper drainage system.

While no reports about casualties have been reported, flood waters have destroyed or damaged houses and flooded main streets in the town since the beginning of September, a series of local disaster management officials told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

In Aweil few people made it to work and school on Tuesday. Locals say more rain is forecasted through Wednesday.

“As I am talking to you, the sky is clouded with heavy clouds. Dark clouds in the sky are running from west to east. These are signs indicating possibilities of another rain on Wednesday”, says Deng Aguer, a local official with Aweil East county.

Many roads are impassable, cars get stuck and several places were inundated.

“Agriculture officials told me today they have recorded 50-100 mm (2 to 4 inches) of rain in low lying areas and the situation is appalling. It can turn even worse,” said Aguer.

“I thought I would be able to make it to work today, but it was not possible. I tried but I got stuck. To make it worse, my motorbike broke down and I could not even find anyone for help. I was alone for almost half of the day because it was raining”, he explained.

Victims of heavy rains and colliding floods from the overflowing local rivers, especially Kuom river, who spoke to Sudan Tribune from Aweil town, expressed disappointment with government’s intervention so far echoing sentiment during last year’s disaster.

“We are on our own. I don’t know how we are going to manage it,” said Malek Wek, who said he took a refuge with 80 others in an open area is serving as a shelter in Aweil town.

Wek said they are still living outside in the open not knowing what to do or where to go because the government has not yet told them where they should go.

“All our houses have been submerged by the flood. The floods took many of us by surprise. This is why we have lost some of our belongings. Everything we have is destroyed. When the water came we just grabbed a few belongings, anything we could carry, like the beds. We have just the clothes we are wearing.”

While almost half of the town is submerged by water, state officials with the ministry of physical infrastructure said they are doing their best to drain out the water and repair damaged homes, bridges, roads and other infrastructure amid fears over possible outbreaks of diseases linked to the new floods, especially among children.

Simon Deng Duang, a member of National Assembly in Juba, representing Aweil town, expressed his concerns to Sudan Tribune about flooding and said the town is lying in water.

“I am told ten places in Aweil town have been submerged by water and people are now living in the open”, he said calling on the international organisations in the area to intervene.

(ST)

11 Comments

  • AgwerJimmy
    AgwerJimmy

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    oh! that is bad news again for Aweil people.
    God help the people of Aweil!
    What happens that our people are severely subjected to natural disasters this year? There are now displaced pple by hunger, floods etc. And above all there is high influx of returnees in the state while food prices are not affordable by common men. Our state and national gov’ts should have an emergency rescue for Aweil communities. Thanks. Agwer.

    Reply
  • Martin Garang Aher
    Martin Garang Aher

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    Rains are becoming unsual and unredictable in Aweil. It is not there when we need it for cultivation and flooding us when we do not need it.

    With a dismissive and denying government in the state and a marginalising government of South Sudan, Aweilians must brace all odds and hope for the best.

    Reply
  • Josh
    Josh

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    stop crime, stop crime, stop crime. If you believe in bad doing your home ‘ll be the capital city of evil. stop crimes. Return all stolen cattles. Say sorry for those who lost their life at your hands. God’s punishment is invisible, repent today and enjoy freedom tomorrow.

    Dont accommodate evil but try to house God in your house which was made out of mud,sticks, grass, cow dung and urine.

    Scientifically, I wonder how would the house made of Cow dung smell or contaminate the whole region? anyway they’re part of our creatures.Guys you are welcomed to the universe of human being.

    Reply
  • akot
    akot

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    God bless Aweilian, we thank God that there is no one die in flood, but we need to move the town to another place if it is possible.

    Reply
  • akot
    akot

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    Josh. you will die alone son of bitch.

    Reply
  • ANTI_GOVERNMENT
    ANTI_GOVERNMENT

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    oh my God Rains are becoming unsual and unredictable in Aweil. It is not there when we need it for cultivation and flooding us when we do not need it. With a dismissive and denying government in the state and a marginalising government of South Sudan, Aweilians must correct this

    Reply
  • AgwerJimmy
    AgwerJimmy

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    Hi Josh, you are a wrong element in South Sudan and you need to be cleared out.
    I don’t know why you were even accepted on this web site for comments. The way you have commented even a pure mentally disordered person can not give such a comment. Have you ever heard of clan/tribal fights in Aweil if it is not that with Jallaba if you are not what I have described above. Thanks
    Agwer.

    Reply
  • jemo
    jemo

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    what hapened in Aweil is by gone but will be your turn Next
    season fuck your ass

    Reply
  • Cadaai ?o?
    Cadaai ?o?

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    Historian and Identity Advocacy View:

    Ooo! bad news to Malualditda’s land. I hope your land will recover soon. You are really my people, Dinka Malual. You deserve lots of credits for your truth heroism when it comes to South Sudanese’ freedom. Even though, some tribes in Dinka are now trying to claims undeserving credits for freedom, you guys are absolutely in my top three tribes in Dinka must be recognizable upon South Sudan freedom today.

    Reply
  • ANTI_GOVERNMENT
    ANTI_GOVERNMENT

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    aaa man are you fuken crazz? do you thing we are like your poepl who use to roob some poeple kid nor we fougth among ourselves,dinka malual are the fathers of the dinka

    Reply
  • Nan dit
    Nan dit

    Heavy rains in N. Bahr el Ghazal displace thousands amid high food prices
    May God bless the IDPs,
    Dear Aweilian,State govt,
    The issue of flood need durable solution,two things need to be done.The transfer of State capital,or making parmanent drainage system in the state rather then calling for assistance every year.The NFI and Food assistance is not a solution to this but we appreciated the State government by tring hard to make drainage in some parts of the State.

    Reply
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