As torrential rains continue to submerge vast areas of South Sudan including Pochalla, Fangak, Akobo, and Panyijiar among others, the urgency of government action has never been clearer.

Communities are stranded, homes destroyed, and livelihoods washed away yet the silence from key institutions is deafening.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management must rise to the occasion. This is not the time to lean on NGOs or international partners as the primary responders.

It must demonstrate its capacity to respond decisively to this national emergency. Citizens need to see their own government leading the relief effort, mobilizing resources, and reaching vulnerable populations with speed and compassion. Only then will South Sudanese regain faith in their institutions.

Similarly, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission must be empowered and mobilized to coordinate immediate interventions. Food, shelter, medical aid, and evacuation support are not luxuries they are lifelines. The government must double its ground efforts, deploying personnel and resources to the hardest-hit areas without delay.

South Sudan cannot afford to appear helpless in the face of recurring natural disasters. Leadership is measured not only in times of political stability but also during crises that test the resilience of the nation.

This crisis is a test of institutional credibility. If ministries fail to act decisively, public trust will erode further. Citizens must see that their government is not only aware of their suffering but actively working to alleviate it.

By taking full ownership of the flood response, government will reaffirm its responsibility to protect and serve its people.

It is time to act not tomorrow, not through others, but today, with visible commitment and concrete results.