By Manas James Okony
Alali Payam in Jonglei State’s Akobo County is facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation as severe flooding hits the area, leaving homes and farms destroyed.
The situation has progressively worsened over recent years due to various factors, including climate change, conflict, and infrastructural challenges.
Alali, located on the eastern outskirts of Akobo town, lies along the border with Ethiopia. The area is largely cut off from the rest of the county by road, complicating access to much-needed assistance. In recent years, there has been an influx of returnees from refugee camps in neighboring Ethiopia, adding to the pressure on already strained resources amidst an unfolding crisis.
The current floods are primarily caused by the Gilo River, which flows from Ethiopia, pouring its waters into the Akob River, subsequently affecting Alali.
In interviews with the No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, several residents expressed feelings of neglect and desperation.
John Lily, one of the residents reported that their livelihoods have been devastated.
“We have been cut off for a long time without services, and these floods have only worsened the situation, leaving children and the elderly vulnerable with no food and health services. Our maize and other food crops are rotting in water because there is not enough dry ground to store them,” she lamented. “We appeal to the government and aid agencies to come to our aid.”
Another resident, Abang Okongo, shared her anguish, stating, “Food and medicines are lacking. We are only huddling on small soil mounds with our children. Food is being destroyed in the floods; we cannot even get firewood for cooking. We are suffering.”
The severity of the flooding has forced some villagers to consider returning to refugee camps, highlighting the precariousness of their current circumstances.
Local chief Philip Omot Jook echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the massive scale of the disaster.
“The situation is dire, with hundreds of residents suffering without basic services, including food and shelter. The entire villages of Baba, Wibura, Dilok, and Wau are submerged in floodwaters. We appeal to the government and aid agencies to assess the situation and come to our aid,” he appealed.
Meanwhile, Mading Akueth, chairperson of the state Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), stated the humanitarian situation is dire in parts of the state, including Akobo County, due to devastating floods.
“The situation is particularly critical in Fangak and Pigi, which are inaccessible, with little information coming from those areas. We are appealing to all our partners to provide resources for intervention in Pigi, Fangak, Twic East, Duk, and Alali, so partners should come in to provide non-food items to rescue those stranded.”