Heavy floods caused extreme destruction and continuous displacement drastically affecting nearly one million people in South Sudan, said International Organization for Migration or IOM.
‘The level of destruction caused by the floods is unfathomable. People have nowhere to sleep, children are sick, there is no food to eat’, said Jean-Philippe Chauzy, IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission.
The organization in a statement said many people in affected areas are unable to access health facilities, nutrition centres and other basic services.
‘IOM stands with the Government of South Sudan and its people during these trying times,’ said Chauzy.
He added that ‘we have rolled up our sleeves and we will continue to do everything we can to help alleviate the misery caused by these floods’.
IOM teams distributed emergency items such blankets, mosquito nets and plastic sheets for temporary shelters and also distributed aqua tabs and filter cloths used to treat the water to 3,000 households in Mankien and Bentiu towns.
It said another 6,000 households received similar relief items in Ulang and Gumuruk towns.
Local organizations supported by IOM, gave water treatment, emergency items and mobile health services to some 140,000 people.
‘We cannot forget that in crises, vulnerable populations, especially women and children, are more likely to face gender-based-violence and other kinds of abuse’, said Chauzy.
‘Protection and safeguarding are at the cornerstone of all of our activities and it is important that as we provide immediate emergency relief we also tackle protection issues,’ he added.