Fangak Flood Crisis Deepens
Weeks of heavy rain have turned Fangak County, Jonglei State, into a patchwork of isolated islands. Swollen rivers swallowed farmland and huts, cutting canoe channels through what were once roads. Local officials warn that food stocks and clean water are evaporating fast.
Caritas South Sudan Rapid Response
Answering the Commissioner’s appeal, Caritas South Sudan partnered with the Catholic Diocese of Malakal to mount a relief convoy on 11 August. After a rapid assessment in Pum, aid workers shortlisted 400 of the hardest-hit households for immediate assistance.
Each family received a 50-kilogram bag of sorghum, lentils, cooking oil, salt, a plastic sheet and one jerrican. Emergency coordinator Omujwok Obaj Denyung said the package aims to cover “at least one month of staples while communities seek safer ground.”
First-Hand Accounts from Villagers
Villagers described paddling canoes between rooftops to fetch water, only to find wells contaminated. “The floodwater reached my doorway at night; we carried the children to the church,” recounted Nyabol, a mother of three. She praised the food drop but fears disease outbreaks.
Urgent Appeal to Government and NGOs
Omujwok urged government bodies and humanitarian partners to scale up operations, stressing that elderly people, women and children “bear the brunt”. Health kits, boats and durable shelters, he added, remain priorities as the rainy season shows no sign of retreat.