Floods Render Thousands Homeless in Jonglei State
Since last week, floods in parts of Uror County, Jonglei State, have left thousands of people homeless. The disaster was preceded by days of intense rainfall and the overflow of water bodies in the nearby Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
According to media reports from Uror County Commissioner James Gatkhor Gatluak, nearly the entire county has been inundated, displacing 30,000 people. The affected villages include Motot, Pulchuol, Karam, Patahai, Pamai, Tiam, and Panyok. Commissioner Gatluak reported that 27,000 people and 18 communities have been impacted overall.
He noted that these displaced individuals have been moved to higher ground, where food and shelter are scarce. During his assessment of the damage, Gatkhor faced a five-hour journey from Pamai to Tiam—a trip that usually takes two hours. He called for urgent humanitarian assistance and warned that the situation is expected to deteriorate further.
Gatwang Jokthiang Machar, the county coordinator for the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), described the situation as dire. He reported that 27,000 people were displaced in the initial wave of flooding, with an additional 10,902 people relocated later. The situation is expected to worsen as displaced individuals from Duk and Ayod counties arrive. “We are urgently requesting assistance to address this growing humanitarian crisis,” he said.