By King News
King News, Juba, 15th Sep 2024—Northern Bahr el Gazal State received the first shipment of subsidized assorted food on Friday, amounting to 2,000 bags. This was a remedial move to tame the skyrocketing prices in the markets.
Mr. Simon Ober, the Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, said this was a commitment he made before a delegation led by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs a month ago.
“We said as the state government we have the duty of care, and it is because of that we mobilized our local resources to the tune of 200 million. This one has now exceeded the amount, reaching now somewhere closer to 300 million because of the existing market prices,” he said, “The purpose of this as the government and the resilient people of this state, we must confront the national calamities ahead.”
Ober noted the assorted food would be given to less privileged citizens and affected families.
“This first consignment of assorted food items that had just arrived will be used to address some of the needs,” he continued. “It is not enough; it is a drop in the ocean, but it will be distributed to the families that are severely affected by the flood.”
The state boss lamented that as flood rock wreaked havoc, houses collapsed, farms were destroyed, and lives were lost. He revealed that “we are expecting the next consignment in the next few days.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Bol Akuar Gamar, the State Minister of Youth & Sport, the assorted food comprising maize flour and rice.
“Due to the rain these days, some of the trucks are still on the way coming, and they will soon arrive,” Bol Akuar said
“The intention is to help our citizens, or this NBG government’s policy is to assist people affected by floods and returnees who really need assistance. That is the main purpose we brought this assorted food. We know the economic crisis that is facing the country, so this is a state government effort,”
According to UN OCHA, as of 6 September, about 700,000 people were flood-affected in Aweil East, Fangak, Nasir, Mayendit, and Rubkona counties. The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated $10 million to flood-affected people in five severely impacted counties.
In Upper Nile State, a Floods Task Force mission visited Tonga town, where 3,600 displaced people have arrived from New Fangak, Jonglei State, since mid-August.
A rapid needs assessment in Nasir County identified 1,000 households (6,000 people) displaced across three Payams.
In Western Bahr el Ghazal State, mass displacement of about 20,000 people (5,700 families) has been reported in Jur River County since August, with 147,750 fedans of farmland submerged.
A joint Government-partner visit is planned. In Raja County, over 20,000 people have been affected by flooding.
In the Abyei Administrative Area, the Abyei Flood Task Force met on 9 September to address ongoing challenges. A lack of drainage in Abyei town was identified, and an NGO committed to assisting 1,020 people (170 households). An inter-agency needs assessment will verify the number of displaced.