South Sudan is now experiencing the worst flood in 60 years. Over 3.3 million people are expected to be affected. Norway is therefore providing NOK 22 million (approximately over USD 2 million) in emergency humanitarian efforts for flood victims in South Sudan, says Development Minister Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim.
The White Nile and its tributaries in South Sudan are now flooding large areas. It is expected that when the flood peak is reached, it will affect 3.3 million people. The flood will affect local communities still suffering the consequences of devastating floods between 2019 and 2022. One million people have been displaced. The flood puts roads and airports under water. This makes it difficult to reach the population with emergency aid.
It is important that Norway and other countries contribute to help the severely tested civilian population in South Sudan. Norway’s humanitarian partners are already engaged in life-saving efforts, and we want to enable them to save more human lives, says the development minister.
Norway now provides a total of more than NOK 22 million for flood response. NOK 10 million is given to the UN Humanitarian Fund for South Sudan and NOK 12 million to the Norwegian Refugee Council. In addition, Norway has contributed to the response through the UN Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). The Norwegian support will primarily go towards providing health care, shelter and food to flood victims, in addition to clean water, sanitation and hygiene measures.
The flood crisis in South Sudan comes on top of an already critical situation for large parts of the population. Local conflicts and extensive abuses against the population contribute to the massive humanitarian needs the country is facing. About 4.4 million people, out of a population of 12 million, are displaced. Half of these have fled the country. At the same time, the conflict in Sudan has led to the economic situation going from bad to worse. South Sudan has received 780,000 refugees from its neighboring country in the north as a result of the conflict in Sudan.
