Riak Chol

The commissioner of Fangak County, Biel Buturos Biel on Tuesday said the area is facing a dire situation caused by the protracted four years of floods.

He said the county is facing food insecurity, poor access to learning, insecurity, and poor health facilities.  

Buturos said the catastrophic floods have not only destroyed shelters but have also decimated crops and livestock, which are the main sources of livelihood for the communities in Fangak County. 

He emphasized that the inundation of farmlands has led to massive crop failure, worsening an already precarious food security situation. 

“As a result, many families are facing acute hunger and malnutrition, with aid agencies delivering insufficient assistance to the affected communities.”

“People are surviving on the food relief services given by the World Food Program, which is limited. As of now, people survive on water lilies and it is not even there,” the commissioner said.

He hinted that most of the education infrastructures had been destroyed by water and during the war.

“So, we are working now trying to boost the quality of education, but without materials,” Buturos said.

“Some of the children are still learning under the trees, which is not good in the 21st century for children. But it happened in Fangak. This is critical and we need to do something about it.” 

He appealed to the government of Jonglei State and the national government to give priority to the education system in rural areas.