Tonj, 20 October, 2022 / 8:50 pm (ACI Africa).
Engaging in “proper planning” can go a long way in averting deadly floods and other similar disasters in South Sudan, a Catholic Priest in the East-Central African nation has said.
Fr. John Gbemboyo who was reacting to reports of negative effects of heavy rains in parts of South Sudan advocated for a proactive approach of the country’s ministry for disaster and preparedness through the provision of appropriate equipment.
A Thursday, October 20 report by the Jesuits Refugee Service (JRS), an international refugee entity of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), indicates that “with water levels rising higher than a meter, more than 200,000 people are estimated to have been affected” by heavy rain and severe floods in Maban County of Upper Nile State, South Sudan.
Described as “the most devastating flooding experienced in over four decades”, the floods in Maban are said to have destroyed various infrastructure, including roads, schools, and other social facilities and caused “significant damage to livelihood assets, food crops, and livestock”, according to the October 20 JRS report.
In a Tuesday, October 18 interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Gbemboyo who is the Social Communication Coordinator of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC) said, “Proper planning can help the government to avert more disasters.”