JUBA – More than 926,000 people have been affected by floods in South Sudan as heavy rains and rising Nile River levels continue to submerge villages and worsen an already dire humanitarian situation, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
UN-OCHA said as of 17 October, around 927,000 people have been affected across 26 counties in six states, with Jonglei and Unity states accounting for over 91% of those impacted.
It added that nearly 302,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
In Jonglei State, flooding has affected over 145,000 people including 89,000 displaced individuals across six payams in Fangak County.
In Northern Bahr el Ghazal, more than 60,000 people have been affected across Aweil East, Aweil North, Aweil South, Aweil West, Aweil Centre, and Aweil Town.
“Floodwaters, which have persisted since July, continue to damage homes, farmland, and critical infrastructure disrupting health and education services,” the agency said.
It added that at least 61 schools across Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity, and Western Equatoria have been affected, impacting more than 22,000 children and 700 teachers.
In Unity State, heavy rainfall over the past week has caused flash flooding across southern areas, severely damaging infrastructure, and displacing communities. According to the UN agency, the Ganyiel airstrip in Panyinjiar, previously reclaimed from floodwaters, is once again inundated.
“Despite significant access constraints in Unity, Upper Nile, and Jonglei states, humanitarian partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance and are planning assessments in affected areas to better respond.”
During the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on 13 October, Humanitarian Coordinator Anita Kiki Gbeho called for increased investment in prevention, climate-smart solutions, and sustainable development, underscoring that peace remains essential for lasting progress.
