Heavy floods have severely affected Tonj Town in Warrap state, destroying at least ten houses in Hi Matar Khartum Jedid, a returnees’ camp in town.
Don Bosco FM recorded the views of the affected people.One returnee blamed the German NGO GIZ and the County authority that set up the camp in the area that flooded.
He said be buildings were made of mud bricks over plastic sheeting foundations.
He added that water destroyed houses, groundnuts, sorghum and other crops.
The most affected people were children.
He appealed to GIZ and the county authority to provide shelter, food and blankets.
GIZ engineer Samuel recognized that the camp was a double mistake: the government decided to settle returnees in a flood-prone area and the NGO used mud bricks that cannot stand inundations.
He said they suspended construction works and are trying to find stones to build the houses over proper foundations.
Eng Samuel said GIZ built 63 houses and ten collapsed with the water.
He added that the commissioner is working on a new plan to relocate the returnees to a higher water-safe area.
Eng Samuel said the affected families were invited to settle in another area but they refused to leave their crops.