Devastating floods aggravate suffering for returnees in Rotriah
By Chondok Stephen Magei
Thousands of returnees in Rotriah camp of Unity State, who fled conflict in neighboring Sudan, are homeless following heavy flooding that submerged most of the homes with water.
Tek Ruathel Wectuor, the Rotriah camp administrator told Juba Echo on Friday that 31 houses are submerged in water putting the population at risk of water borne diseases such as cholera.
He said many families are at risk of hunger due to the destruction caused by the floods.
Rotriah returnees’ camp is located in the North of Unity State next to the oilfield in Rubkona County.
“Our camp flooded due to heavy rains, right now 31 blocks are submerged in water and we are living on the roadside without food, shelter and clean drinking water. I have communicated with the State government and humanitarian partners to rescue vulnerable people out of water,” said Wectuor.
He added that several children are suffering from malnutrition, adding that malaria cases are on the rise.
“I have requested Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) to construct strong dikes to control water. They have provided us with two excavators but it will take like three weeks to finish the dikes,” said Wectuor.
In addition, he disclosed that schools and health facilities are also submerged in water, thus cutting off vital services to the affected population in the camp.
Wectuor called for quick evacuation of the affected population in order to avoid cases of drowning.
The Rotriah camp hosts both returnees and Sudanese who fled fighting between the Sudan Armed Force (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said on Thursday that more than 472,000 people across 26 of South Sudan’s 78 counties are affected by heavy floods.
OCHA said in a statement that the affected people are in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria State.
It said that these States are already grappling with compounded challenges such as previous floods, ongoing conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and the broader regional impact of the Sudan crisis.
