South Sudan: Flooding Situation Flash Update No. 3 (As of 12 September 2024)

HIGHLIGHTS

• As of 12 September, flooding has affected over 735,000 people across 38 of South Sudan’s 78 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area.
• According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 65,000 people have been displaced, with over 41,000 in Warrap State alone.
• The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated $10 million to aid 700,000 flood- affected people in five severely impacted counties. The South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF) allocated $5 million to complement this effort.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

As of 12 September, flooding has impacted over 735,000 people across 38 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis compounded by severe food insecurity, economic decline, conflict and disease outbreaks, including those linked to the Sudan conflict. Since May, floods have damaged homes, crops, and infrastructure, disrupting education and health services and raising disease risks. IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix reported 65,000 people displaced, with over 41,000 in Warrap and 10,375 in Jonglei.
On 6 September, CERF allocated $10 million to assist 700,000 flood-affected people in Aweil East, Fangak, Nasir, Mayendit and Rubkona counties. An additional $5 million from the SSHF will complement the CERF funding to support life-saving aid and critical services.
In Unity State, an inter-agency report confirmed that 21,863 people had been displaced in Mayendit County, with 11 of 13 payams affected by flooding. About 4,275 hectares of farmland are submerged, and poor road conditions hamper the delivery of essential supplies, requiring costly alternative river and air transport.
In Upper Nile State, a Floods Task Force mission visited Tonga town, where 3,600 displaced people have arrived from New Fangak, Jonglei State, since mid-August. A rapid needs assessment in Nasir County identified 1,000 households (6,000 people) displaced across three payams.
In Western Bahr el Ghazal State, mass displacement of about 20,000 people (5,700 families) has been reported in Jur River County since August, with 147,750 fedans of farmland submerged. A joint Government-partner visit is planned. In Raja County, over 20,000 people have been affected by flooding.
In the Abyei Administrative Area, the Abyei Flood Task Force met on 9 September to address ongoing challenges. A lack of drainage in Abyei town was identified, and an NGO committed to assisting 1,020 people (170 households). An inter-agency needs assessment will verify the number of displaced.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Humanitarian partners are responding to the immediate needs of flood-affected people across the country, focusing on life-saving sectors like health, WASH, food, shelter, livelihoods and non-food items. Critical gaps include equipment for water pumps, dyke construction, stock pre-positioning and advocacy for social cohesion.
Through a Peacebuilding Fund in Bor, Pibor and Malakal, the UN and its partners are running an awareness campaign in Jonglei, the Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Upper Nile to address flooding's impact on social cohesion, while preparing to mitigate tensions between host communities and internally displaced persons due to displacement.
In Jonglei, an NGO provided emergency shelter and non-food items to 16,200 individuals in New Fangak.
The South Sudan Red Cross registered 900 displaced households near Old Fangak, with WASH distributions set to begin soon. Ten tents were also delivered for mobile health clinics.
In Unity, the UN and its partners delivered 500 antivenom vials to Koch on 5 September to combat the rising snakebite incidents caused by flooding.
In Upper Nile, two batches of 30 MT of supplies for WASH, protection, nutrition and shelter were dispatched from Malakal to Tonga on 6-7 September for flood-displaced people from New Fangak, with distributions starting on 10 September.

In Central Equatoria, the Civil Aviation Authority is clearing culverts and desilting tributaries to ensure flight safety. The Red Cross distributed multi-purpose cash to 7,200 flood-affected people in Juba County.
In Northern Bahr el Ghazal, the UN and its partners distributed food to 90,000 families as part of the lean season response, with cash assistance to follow in all five counties.

GAPS AND CHALLENGES

Despite prioritization, rising flood impacts are outpacing humanitarian reach. Impassable roads and floodwaters are cutting off access in many areas. In Jonglei, a rapid assessment revealed severe gaps in WASH, health, education and other sectors. In Western Bahr el Ghazal, leaders report restricted access to flood-hit areas due to impassable roads. In Eastern Equatoria, Lafon County is mainly inaccessible, with rampant snakebites and no antivenom, causing fatalities.