Nearly 9 million South Sudanese will face a humanitarian crisis this year as the result of poor roads and insecurity in addition to floods, the UN has said.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, who is also the Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan stated the conditions are exacerbated by impassable roads of obscured airstrips.
“This year, more than two-thirds of South Sudan’s population; 8.9 million people, will need humanitarian assistance. But access to people in affected locations remains challenging due to impassable roads, flooded airstrips, and insecurity on the waterways,” Nicholas Haysom told the media in Juba upon his return from New York on Wednesday.
He had traveled to the UN General Assembly where he also addressed the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan.
“I reminded the Security Council that conflicts and climate [changes] continue to devastate communities and drive humanitarian needs up – particularly 4 consecutive years of flooding have already impacted hundreds of thousands of people across the country this year,” Haysom stressed.
Last week, South Sudan Vice President for Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi told the UN General Assembly that about 70% – 80% of the country sitting in flood waters for the last three years – owing to the impact of climate change and global warming.
He said told the world that the government of South Sudan is donating $10 million to WFP to mitigate floods across South Sudan.
The Head of UNMISS underscored the need to aid families living along the Nile River.
“Let me emphasize that addressing insecurity especially along the Nile will improve humanitarian operations and our response, as well as commercial activities and livelihoods,” Nicholas Haysom stated.
He concluded by reiterating the international community ‘support for the people of South Sudan.
“Let me re-affirm that UNMISS, together with regional partners, notably the African Union and IGAD, and the international community, will continue to support the parties in fulfilling their obligations to the people of South Sudan.”
