The humanitarian situation in Tambura County, Western Equatoria State, South Sudan, has significantly deteriorated due to flooding, hunger, limited healthcare, and disrupted education. Heavy rainfall recently caused widespread flooding in several IDP camps, damaging makeshift shelters and leaving families without safe places to sleep. Residents are struggling to cope with the aftermath, highlighting the urgent need for assistance.
John Kumbo, a resident of Tambura, reported that heavy rain from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. caused extensive flooding, making movement difficult for both children and adults. The water has reached under people's beds and is flowing around houses, leaving residents in a precarious situation. Some have been forced to seek higher ground after their shelters were flooded, further complicating their living conditions.
The flooding has raised concerns about sanitation and the risk of diseases, particularly malaria. Kumbo warned that if the water remains for several days, it could lead to serious health problems, especially for children. Stagnant water can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria. Residents are calling for urgent assistance to address these pressing issues.
Peter Marko Yensi, an IDP representative in Tambura, stated that the flooding has exacerbated existing problems, including hunger, limited healthcare, and lack of access to education. Many people are dying due to hunger, and the health situation is dire, with no medicines available and reliance on private clinics. Education has also been severely impacted, with no clear solution for children's education.
IDPs and residents have expressed their needs, including education, financial support for businesses, food items, and non-food items. Natalia Zenaroone, an IDP in Tambura, emphasized the importance of addressing these needs to improve their living conditions. Lucy Edward, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission coordinator in Tambura County, acknowledged the serious humanitarian challenges faced by IDPs and host communities.
According to Edward, food prices have skyrocketed, with a measure of cassava selling for 6,000 South Sudanese Pounds and groundnuts for 7,000 pounds. The flooding has destroyed makeshift shelters in several camps, and vulnerable individuals have died from hunger. She appealed to the government for improved health services, food, non-food items, education, safety, and protection.
Residents and IDPs are urging the government and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent assistance to address the pressing needs in Tambura County. The situation remains dire, with six years of displacement taking a significant toll on the affected populations. Efforts to reach county authorities for comment were unsuccessful, highlighting the need for a coordinated response to this crisis.
Key points
- Flooding and hunger worsen humanitarian crisis for IDPs in Tambura County, South Sudan.
- Residents call for urgent assistance to address flooding, hunger, healthcare, education, shelter, and protection needs.
- The situation in Tambura County has been exacerbated by six years of displacement, with dire consequences for IDPs and host communities.
