Severe flooding devastates Mayom, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes

By Matik Kueth

Relentless torrential rains have unleashed devastating floods in Mayom County, Unity State, displacing thousands of residents in a region already struggling with recurrent food crises. Over six days of heavy downpours have submerged eight out of the county’s 11 Payams, leaving communities grappling with rising waters.

Mayom County Commissioner Luka Chierey Riek told King News on Monday that the floodwaters have forced thousands to flee their homes in search of higher ground.

“Due to this flooding situation, almost 8 Payams have been submerged and attacked by this flooding. We have 11 Payams. The flood, the farmland, the houses are also submerged like this because of the flooding,” Riek said.

He said the catastrophic flooding had forced 80 percent of the county’s population to evacuate, taking their cattle and children to higher ground.

“And as a result of that, the whole livestock has been evacuated to high grounds in different payams. And then only elderly people are still there in small high grounds. They are looking for the remaining of Dura or that farmland that has a little maize,” he stated.

 

Riek said despite their efforts in constructing dykes with their hands, the flooding water still passes through the dykes lamenting that it is uncontrollable.

“We are trying our best to make a local dike using our hands and tools. We are now making a dike around Ruathnyibuol. People are still in the headquarters. But other surrounding villages and bomas of Ruathnyibuol have been submerged by the water. The same thing with the Mankien payam. Even the airstrip itself,” he stressed.

He noted that, “It is a fighting that has been going on for seven days. Making a dike around the airstrip itself. So, we managed to protect the airships and the payam headquarters.”

Riek reported that the floods have caused significant damage to neighborhoods in and around Mayom Town, with the county’s outskirts also heavily affected. He added that the county’s RRC coordinator is currently working to register the number of displaced residents.

Those fleeing to the northern part of Mayom County are finding themselves without basic healthcare, with pregnant women and the elderly being particularly vulnerable. The severe flooding, which has been a recurring issue in recent years, continues to devastate the area, destroying properties and wiping out harvested grains.