UNMISS Construct Dykes to protect Bor town residents from floods
Nov 20, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — The Engineering contingents of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan(UNMISS) are constructing a second dyke in Bor town, Jonglei State, to protect residents of Bor from being displaced by the floods that have devastated Jonglei State and many parts of Upper Nile region.
South Korean engineering troops serving with UNMISS are protecting residents in Bor from the effects of unprecedented floods.(Photo credit: courtesy image/UNMISS)
Speaking to the media, Deborah Schein, the head of the peacekeeping mission’s field office for Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, said she is concerned about the suffering of people in Bor and Pibor municipalities.
“The situation in Bor municipality is critical. At the same time, I am equally concerned about the population in Pibor and elsewhere, because they are also suffering from floods caused by a runoff of rain water from the Ethiopian highlands,” says Deborah Schein, head of the peacekeeping mission’s field office for Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
According to Ms. Schein, to prevent more people from being displaced by the flood, UNMISS had to intervene by constructing dykes in the most affected areas like Bor.
Deborah explains that it will be necessary for the people of Bor municipality to repair the Dykes or come up with long term plans to prevent the same situations from repeating itself.
“Once the floods subside it will be necessary to repair the dykes, and for Bor municipality to develop a plan to protect the population from flooding in the future,” she says.
This will not be the first time for UNMISS to construct a dyke in Bor town, in 2013 the peacekeeping mission constructed a 7 kilometre-long dyke to protect the Bor’s market from being swept through by the floods.
Many residents of Bor have expressed their appreciation saying that they may now persevere the floods.
“I was thinking about where to relocate my children, but now I am relieved. My house has not been flooded and I believe it will stay that way,” said Ayen Madhor..
Bor and many parts of Jonglei state have seen more than 405, 000 people displaced and a significant number of death.
In Ayod county, at least 13 people have reportedly died while trying to cross the Phou river and those who made it to the other side of the river to Ayod town are yet to receive humanitarian assistance.
Although South Sudan experiences floods every year, according to historians, this is reportedly the worst floods since early 1960s.