The local authorities in South Sudan’s Awerial County in Lakes State have said 5,000 households have been displaced by floods from their villages since September.

The county coordinator of the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRC), Bub Tong, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that over 40,000 individuals have been displaced from 17 villages and are now camped on high grounds in Bunagok, Dor, Magok, and Guylar areas.

“Many flood-displaced people are in Bunagok, others are within Awerial while others have gone to Dor and Magok payams,” he said. “These are the only highlands in Awerial County for displaced people when there is a disaster like this.”

According to Tong, an assessment was carried out to map out the most affected areas and that the displaced communities are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

“We did an assessment last week and identified villages and the number of households that have been affected and now some of the humanitarian agencies that went to the field are compiling a report,” he added.

Meanwhile, the executive director of Awerial County, Chol Cindut, said more people are still being displaced by floodwaters and are moving to high ground.

“Displacement is going on in Awerial center and the villages around Awerial. We have 372 households this side which have now been affected and as I told you last time, it (flooding) is increasing every day,” Cindut said.

He said 3 people had so far drowned, 6 cases of snake bites have been recorded since September and that waterborne diseases are afflicting the displaced people.

“The flood-affected communities are suffering and nobody has intervened in terms of humanitarian assistance,” he lamented. “There are increased cases of malaria and diarrhea, mostly among children and the elderly. These two diseases are very common in Awerial County.”

Source: Radio Tamazuj