Speaking during a visit to Juba airport to assess the flooding warnings, Lukudu stated that airlines continue to operate normally at South Sudan’s sole international airport, unaffected by the social media-circulated warnings.
“There is no major threat posed by the floods. The planes are continuing to arrive and depart as usual, with no impact on the normal operations of the airport,” Obde said on Wednesday while visiting the airport to assess the situation.
Lukudu further emphasized that the airport itself is secure and that the authorities are closely monitoring the situation. “The areas surrounding the airport are secure,” he added.
Santino Payol Kuol, a representative of Juba International Airport, explained that the airport’s drainage system has been activated to efficiently divert water flow, minimizing the risk of flooding within the airport premises.
“We have opened all the drainage systems to ensure that water flows directly to the river, preventing it from reaching residential areas,” Kuol stated.
The Central Equatoria State Minister of Roads and Bridges, Moses A. Mawa, highlighted the government’s commitment to developing a comprehensive drainage system for the entire city, including the airport.
“What we need now is a complete energy system that will help divert water all the way from Jebel to the Nile. We call on our partners to help us with this critical infrastructure development,” he said.
Mawa emphasized that proper drainage is a city-wide issue and that the government plans to address it in collaboration with development partners.
“It is an international standard for cities to have a functional drainage system and we will clear buildings along the roadside to make way for better water management. Although we paused the demolition due to the rainy season, we will continue the work soon,” he added.
