Floods hamper UN peacekeepers’ patrols in Unity State

JUBA – Severe flooding has left roads in South Sudan’s Leer County, Unity State, in poor condition, disrupting routine patrols by the Ghanaian peacekeeping battalion under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Ghanaian Battalion Commander Omane Agyekum highlighted the challenges during a press briefing in Leer on Thursday.

“The main challenge for now is the roads; you could witness how bad the road to the airport is, and this restricts our movement,” said Omane.

He added that accessing supplies and reinforcement for peacekeeping activities is becoming increasingly difficult due to the impassable roads.

Agyekum noted that despite the challenges, the Ghanaian battalion is working closely with Leer County authorities, including the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF), to maintain security.

“We have a very good relationship with the leadership and the community. We conduct short- and long-duration patrols to ensure everyone’s safety, and we also escort activities and secure the airport during resupply operations,” he explained.

Leer County Commissioner Stephen Taker Riak Dong acknowledged the peacekeepers’ cooperation with local authorities, emphasizing the devastating impact of the floods.

“Leer County is one of the most affected places. We have 77,000 people impacted by the floods across the county,” Dong said.

In May 2024, before water levels rose significantly, Dong established a task force to lead efforts to construct dikes in response to the flooding. He added that the state government had donated 10,000 sandbags to reinforce the dikes in Leer.

Dong also highlighted the difficulties the county is facing, saying that without the Ghanaian peacekeepers, managing these issues would have been far more challenging.

Leer County is largely cut off due to flooding from the Adok River and the state capital, Bentiu.

“Our main problem is the road between Leer and Adok, which is already cut off by water. We are working manually to ensure vehicles can pass between Leer, Piliny, and Adok in the coming months,” Dong explained.

The Leer Temporary Operating Base was originally established by a Mongolian peacekeeping battalion following renewed violence in 2016.

Bentiu IDP camp overwhelmed by flood displacements

Thousands of people displaced by recent floods in Unity State are seeking refuge in Bentiu’s internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, adding further strain to a camp already struggling with an overwhelming number of IDPs.

Tap Mark Diu, a 42-year-old who was displaced from his home in Panyijar County in 2014 due to conflict, told The Juba Echo last week that hunger and the floods were driving the surge in new arrivals to the camp.

“All areas are flooded, and there is no way people can cultivate. The only way people here are surviving is through food rations from the World Food Programme (WFP),” Diu said.

Diu added that Unity State Governor Riek Biem Top has been encouraging IDPs to return to their areas of origin. However, many, like Diu, are reluctant to return due to the high cost of rebuilding homes and concerns about insecurity.

“The cost of building a house is too high, with one pole selling at 25,000 SSP. I have nothing with me. If I were compensated, I could go home,” he explained.

Nyagony Omech, a mother of four from Rubkona County who has been in the Bentiu camp for nine years, said the situation for displaced people is becoming increasingly dire due to food shortages.

“Life here is very bad. The situation is worsening due to food shortages. The WFP food rations are not enough to sustain my family,” she said.

Hon. Tap Bel, a 33-year-old disabled man from Guit County, highlighted that both floods and insecurity are major barriers preventing people from returning home.

“I am living alone. I completed my secondary education in 2021, but now I am just sitting idle here. It’s very tough to get food because my parents are not around,” Bel said.

According to Sarah Nyanat, Chairperson of the Bentiu IDP camp, the site currently hosts around 200,000 people, including 30,000 returnees who fled the conflict in neighboring Sudan after fighting broke out in April 2023.

Tor Tunguar, the Deputy Governor of Unity State, added that heavy flooding has not only cut off road access but also led to the loss of livestock.

“Our people have nothing to eat. These are people who used to farm their own food, but now they have become vulnerable due to this disaster,” Tunguar said.