Rising Waters Swamp Seven Villages
Days of relentless rainfall have pushed the White Nile’s backwaters into Ayod County, submerging Thuor-Ricmic-Thok, Pajiek, Canal, Pagoong, Gaar, Magok, Pagil and Nor-Manyang, and soaking nearly half of Ayod town, County Commissioner James Chol confirmed in a phone interview (Eye Radio).
Food Security At Risk
Flattened sorghum fields now lie beneath murky water, raising fears of acute food shortages in a county already grappling with sporadic insecurity and weak market links. Health workers warn that stagnant pools could accelerate malaria and waterborne diseases if supplies and protective gear do not arrive swiftly.
Swift Relocation Amid Growing Needs
Local authorities say more than 2,000 households have been ferried by canoes and tractors to higher ground north of Ayod town. Temporary shelters line dusty dykes, but many families share torn mats and lack cooking pots, sanitation facilities and basic medicines, Commissioner Chol acknowledged.
Call For Coordinated Aid Response
Chol has appealed to the United Nations, international NGOs and national relief teams for plastic tents, grain, mosquito nets and water purification tablets. ‘Our people acted early, but resources are beyond our capacity,’ he said, urging a coordinated response before the next rain cycle intensifies the crisis.