Nov 23, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — The director-general for the Jonglei state physical infrastructure ministry, Hon. Elijah Mabior Buol, said that Jonglei State is unable to build dykes as its machineries were destroyed during the 2013 war.
In an interview, the director general said that the state needs between USD 150,000 to USD 300,000 to build dykes along the Nile River to tackle the annual flooding in the state.
“The whole area has been submerged in the floodwaters for four months now. The floods come from the Eastern Equatoria highlands and the Nile which recorded the highest level of 13.98 m. As the ministry, we have been handicapped. Our machinery was destroyed during the 2013 war. So, we need USD 150,000 to USD 300,000 to fix the dyke,” Mabior explained.
“As a long-term plan to help save the towns if not the whole of Jonglei, we need a maximum of 300,000 US dollars for the machineries to be operational. This will help us build a durable 200 kilometers dyke from Bangacharot near Mangalla to the Akeer area in the north,” headed.
Mabior assures that if the dykes are built even the cattle farmers will not have to leave Bor areas again to Equatorian regions.
Mabior further reiterates that the dykes will also provide mechanism for protection and people will feel safe in their areas.
“The floodwaters always claim grazing areas, so if we get the money or someone donates the machinery to fix the dyke, cattle keepers will not be leaving their areas. Again, there will be a protection to people and their properties,” he stressed.
Elijah Buor pleaded with the national government and the international community for the much-needed material and financial support in tackling the floods.
Bol Deng, an activist in Bor, said that even though this long-term plan is a very good plan, what people need now is a short-term plan to save their lives.
He appealed to the government to bring the army to help the local youth to fix a temporary dyke so that people can return to their homes.
Last week, UNMISS embarked on the process to build a temporary dyke in Bor to prevent more people from being displaced.
The head of peacekeeping mission’s field office for Jonglei Deborah schein, said that 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.
