The UN migration agency has confirmed that over 220,000 people have been affected by the flooding in South Sudan’s Unity State.
As a result of the floods, there’s a surge in malnutrition, food shortages, and the spread of various diseases.
This year’s flooding is one of the worst in 60 years with the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) blaming climate change for the disaster.
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General Amy Pope described the situation facing the victims in Unity State as “almost unimaginable”.
“People have been forced to leave their communities, livestock has died, there is tremendous food insecurity, people are more threatened by things like malaria and other diseases,” Pope said while on a visit to the state, which is the worst-hit region in the country.
“It is having a tremendous impact on the people of this community in very devastating ways.
The UNHCR adds that consecutive years of flooding has hampered people’s ability to cope with the crisis. The situation has been exercerbated by the threat of conflict and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
Most of South Sudan’s population rely on international food aid, while majority of basic services, like health and education, are provided by United Nations agencies and aid groups.