Jonglei State intensifies flood resilience efforts

By Alan Clement
Jonglei State has stepped up flood resilience efforts as Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok met a VNG International delegation to discuss joint strategies for disaster preparedness and response.
According to the State’s press unit, the delegation, led by Karim Buossak, met with the Governor and senior state officials in Bor on Tuesday, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, to assess ongoing flood mitigation projects and explore new avenues of partnership.
In a statement, speaking during the meeting, the Acting Chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), Aleer Goi Aleer, emphasized that persistent flooding continues to displace communities, damage road networks, and hamper public awareness campaigns.
“As the Governor rightly stated, addressing these issues requires a technical and coordinated approach,” said Aleer in a statement adding that the partnership with VNG International comes at a crucial time when communities need practical, long-term solutions to withstand seasonal floods.
VNG delegation leader Karim Buossak highlighted the importance of building institutional capacity and strengthening early warning systems across vulnerable areas. “We came to Jonglei to witness the progress made over the years in flood resilience,” he said in a statement.
According the State’s press unit, the delegate emphasized that strengthening early warning systems is key to ensuring communities are better prepared for rising water levels. “Strengthening early warning systems is key to ensuring people are better prepared for rising water levels,” he stated in a statement.
Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok expressed gratitude for the Netherlands’ continued support and praised VNG’s role in enhancing local governance structures.
“Your investment in building local capacity from boma to payam, county to municipality is commendable,” the Governor said in a statement.
“We look forward to formalizing our partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding facilitated by the Local Government Board in Juba,” he added in a statement.
In the statement, Governor Riek also announced the upcoming inauguration of a Dutch-funded water treatment plant in Juba, a transformative project supported by the Government of the Netherlands through its embassy in South Sudan, which will significantly improve access to clean water in urban centers.
Peter Mahal, Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Water, further noted that Jonglei stands to benefit from this collaboration.
“Jonglei is fortunate to host this initiative. The national government stands ready to support and ensure service delivery across the state. VNG’s technical guidance will empower local communities,” he said.
The partnership discussions mark a renewed phase in Jonglei State’s drive to build resilience against floods that have repeatedly devastated livelihoods across the region.