(JONGLEI ) – The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has warned that severe flooding in South Sudan could affect more than one million people this year, with more than 100,000 already displaced. The agency said the floods are worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation in the country.
According to UNHCR, if rainfall and rising waters continue, as many as 400,000 people could be forced from their homes by the end of 2025. This would surpass last year’s levels, marking one of the largest displacements in recent years.
The worst affected areas are Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity states, where entire villages have been submerged. Homes, schools and health centres are under water, while farmland and grazing pastures have been destroyed. Livestock losses and contaminated water sources are also raising serious health risks, including outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
The UN agency has appealed for urgent support to meet basic needs such as shelter, food assistance and clean water. It said the humanitarian response is severely underfunded, with only a third of the nearly 300 million US dollars (around 1.38 trillion South Sudanese Pounds, SSP) required so far secured. The shortfall is affecting the ability to provide emergency shelters, cash assistance and other life-saving services.
South Sudan is already struggling with one of Africa’s largest displacement crises. An estimated two million people are internally displaced, while the country also hosts more than 589,000 refugees from neighbouring states.
The UNHCR warned that without additional international support, the impact of the floods will deepen the suffering of communities that are already living with conflict, food shortages and economic hardship.
Aid workers on the ground say that access challenges caused by high waters are further slowing relief efforts, leaving many families stranded without assistance.
Discover more from Access Radio Yei News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
