Between August – September 2016,
LED BY CMD
Flood Displacements To
Jiech, Gorwai, Nyanepal ,Kandak, Wai, Wechdeng, Pagil, Haat, Menime
And Mogok of Ayod County (Jiech HQS)
Sept 24,2016(Nyamilepedia) —- Preface:Â On 24th July 2016 reports emerged of displacements caused by flood over the whole County (exception of few places where there were no reports of flooding) On the above mentioned date heavy rains hit the entire Ayod County resulting to massive flooding after River Nile (Phow river) broke its banks; hence resulted into huge displacement of people both host and IDPs communities. Some of the displaced sought refuge along Canal, about 9hrs walk from Jiech and some gathered in homes where ground is a bit elevated.
The assessment team witnessed an average of seven families living in small tukuls and having to share limited resources they had. One of the affected members of such families told the team that adults sleep outside and children inside for it cannot accommodate all of them. This assessment was carried it out between 12, August and 10 Sept 2016 in all of Payams of Ayod County where CMD established bases.
The assessment has three purposes
- . To establish the extent of the floods and its impact.
- To know the number of people affected/displaced in Jiech and other places
- Identify the humanitarian needs including related water related infections and diseases.
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Context – Jiech
On 24th July 2016 heavy rain (rained for about 12 hours consecutively) hit the whole County, resulting to massive flooding and enormous displacements reported. On 12th August 2016 the team moved around Jiech and other different places to assess the situation as per the reports that emerged from different places across the county. The team was expecting to move to other areas to confirm the extent of the flooding being reported. But within Jiech it was so challenging to move from house to house due to accessibility difficulty and only few households were visited. The team was only able to visit 23 HHs as a sample to represent the other population (with most areas covered by flood waters) From the assessment, it was noted that floods as a result of the heavy rains have hit all parts of the County. Most compounds visited have been filled with water and some houses partly submerged.
On 5th August 2016 another heavy rain hit the whole county again and a good number of people also reported in various locations to have been displaced. Thus, the situation is continuing deteriorating across the whole county. Most of the affected people confirmed loss of their foods through the swelling water that flooded their homes. In Jiech (Aprox.800HHs displaced) and 60 houses evacuated. The team found them empty only water could be seen inside of them.Â
Context: Gorwai
Gorwai is located on the south of Jiech and has the highest displaced population. The displacement occurred earlier than other places. Flooding came much earlier in Gorwai in the midst of June 2016 and was reported late. But all the crops were destroyed in their earlier stages in Gorwai and the surrounding villages, and animals diseases have also have been reported. Cattle and goats are dying but no specific disease have been identified or treated.
Scope of crisis
This indicates there is need for quick humanitarian response in all sectors of food security, NFI distribution, WASH, Protection and Education as the limited educational facilities some have been occupied by the displaced communities. Therefore, this crisis needs immediate humanitarian assistance.
The geographical areas involved in this crisis is relatively confined to whole county and the locations are as follows; Nyanepal, Wai, Pagil, Mogok, Wechdeng, Kandak, Menime, Haat, Jiech and Gorwai. The displaced persons are staying in open space as all their shelters have been destroyed and are exposed to rains, sun’s heat mosquitoes and cold in the night. And few HHs have been integrated into the host population but still many are sleeping outside under trees around places apparently elevated or dykes around.
The local authorities of this affected places, reported that vast displacement will continue as long as the rains continue. They however recommended immediate humanitarian response by providing both NFIs and food assistance such as Mosquito-nets, fishing gears, cooking-sets, blankets and sleeping mats, provision of clean water (water Guards), water containers for storing water and immediate medical care needs to be provided to this population.
Trends and Scenarios:
The main driver for this displacement is the continuous rains and overflowing/rising of Nile’s water through Phow River. This brings in fear because always the rainy season in this area can go up to the month of November. And this year the rain came down much earlier in May than other years back. So, it is hard to guess when it might stop, the local authorities said.
The major threats to both the host and displaced communities are as follows:
- Exposure (no shelter or mosquito nets)
- Poor WASH facilities. Access to clean water is not adequate and some spoke to the team and said they drink from this water of flood.
- Most latrines in Jiech and other places are reportedly collapsed, so this water is exposed to feces (the team saw a child carrying feces of a small baby and threw it into the water which is very dangerous for it is being done by both displaced and host population)
- Food insecurity (food stuffs have been washed away by water).
The above is INTERSOS WFS compound latrine destroyed and compound full of water and CMD compound’s latrine lain on total collapse.
Findings
From the above findings, the teams found out that the host communities have been sharing mosquito nets and food stuffs and cooking sets but the team observed that this situation will not be sustainable as the limited resources they have will not last for long and cannot provide enough food for the increased population for the next three months (when this flood is expected to subside.) The food they are sharing is relatively distributed to them by WFP and it was meant for one month but was distributed four months ago (April 2016). Therefore according to our observation the little the host communities have will not sustain both of them for further months. It might be finished within one week.
Coping mechanisms:
Both host and IDPs told the team that they first prioritized children in eating over adults in case if there’s any food. And a meal is limited to once a day depending on the amount of food available in that day (adults might go without food some times to keep/reserve food available for their children) adults mostly survive on wild leaves collected from far places. The collection is done by women and they can’t frequently go for act because of periodic attacks by identified armed people. . So, women fear of rape and men on other side fear for their lives.
Food Security
CMD runs FSL in the County. The team on ground distributed inputs; mostly vegetable seeds and fishing gears supplied by UN-FAO but the reports and observations indicate floods have destroyed them all. As the whole place is flooded all seeds are in water now.
The destruction of crops in this County is becoming a tradition because last year the harvest was so poor due to the rainfalls scarcity and again it is worsens this year due to floods. Most of crops in many places have been reported to have been destroyed on their earlier stages but Jiech and Riang which had their crops destroyed on their maturity stages. The crops reached the stage of yielding but because of water allover under their roots, the sorghums’ had premature growth, evidenced by stunted growth and heads appear too small than the usual ones, leaves turned into brown colour. These peculiar developments referred by one of the local farmers as of destruction of farming and no produces are going to be seen this year. He further said there would be nothing to harvest this year compare to last where at least there was little to harvest, though so, poor.
above pictures sorghum and vegetables destroyed on maturity stages by the floods.
Veterinary;
Veterinary office in Ayod reported that animals are dying due to the following diseases:
- Lump skin disease
- Liver flukes disease
- Black quarter disease
- Foot and mouth disease
- Orf disease
- Mage disease
- Bruceloses
- Metristic
- CBP
- CCPP
- Tick disease
VSF Germany is operating currently in four payams across Ayod County. These four payams are as follows:
- Mogok
- Wau
- Pajiek and
- Kuach-Deng payams
Education
CMD in partnership with UNICEF runs Education in Emergencies supporting 64 schools with 455 teachers supported with monthly incentives teaching at various schools. Currently schools have been opened with some schools relocated to the higher grounds. Some schools flooded such as Nyanepal, Jiech, Padek, Nyamier and many others.
Protection
INTERSOS is running a GBV project in Jiech with support to Women Empowerment but the project is ending on the 31st of Aug 2016, as INTERSOS will be going out there is yet to know any other partner supporting GBV activities in the location. This is foreseen to create a gap with women and girls especially affected due to overcrowding in the house because of limited resource this thus expose them to issues of violence by both the men and the boys as they take advantage of the situation like access to clean water, access to latrine as only few latrines are shared by both male and female. The major fear under this sector for both host and displaced populations are:
- Inter-communal violence (if seven families in one tukul how long can they live without violence?)
- Occupation of schools by displaced population
- Children might not come to schools due to accessibility issues with compounds soaked with water
NFIs and Livelihoods that are needed
- Blanket distribution
- Jerry cans as water collection is a challenge for IDPs
- Blanket distribution
- Mosquito nets due to the levels of malaria reported.
- Sheltering materials (durable plastic sheets)
- Fishing gears (hooks ad twines)
Health
There is a PHCC run by COSV in Jiech and about eight PHCUs in various places across the county. But COSV main donor IMA pulled out of South Sudan this year. Therefore several PHCUs have closed as a result of no staff running them. INTERSOS currently is hiring a cleaner on daily basis to help clean the only latrine in the Health facilities in Jiech as this is being by the majority of the population. In recent months of flooding, cases of malaria have been detected and some suspected cases of cholera have been reported in various locations by teachers and local authorities in Gorwai, Jiech, Wai, Nyanepal, Kharmun, Panak, Padek, Kandak, Kotdalok, Wechdeng, Normanyang and Pagil.
WASH
The needs and challenges in the WASH sector for both Host and IDPs are as follows.
- Boreholes:
CMD have been doing rehabilitations of boreholes and hygiene promotion but there have been no funding since beginning of 2016; thus lack of funding reduced CMD capacity to response but responding in a small ways; a lot of boreholes broken down and community are unable to pay for rehabilitation because technicians demand for remunerations after repairing. By now, most of the people main source of drinking water is flood’s water. And in dry season will move near to swamp areas.
 Latrines
Jiech has few latrines functioning but other places’ latrines either poor manage or collapsed. So, both host and IDPs accepted bush defections/poor disposal of hlyuman wastes. In such situation children have high chance of risk of water borne diseases (cholera) etc
WASH needs (short term):
- Emergency Hygiene Promotion campaign across host and displaced populations
- Soap and hygiene kit distributions across host and displaced populations
- Jerry can distribution across displaced population
- Make PUR available for treating water.
- Providing washing points in the schools, health centers and the market areaÂ
Assessment Team Details
| s/no | Name | Agencies | Title | Contact &E-mail |
| 1 | Philip K. Nuot | CMD | Programs Field Coordinator | +8821643343735 |
| 2 | Alafi Richard Lino | INTERSOS | GBV Protection Case Manager | Ibagamoini2006@yahoo.com |
| 3 | Susan Konga | INTERSOS | Project M&E Assistant | susankonga@gmail.com |
| 4 | Jamuo Chuol Dual | CMD | Education Officer | jamuochuol@ymail.com |
| 5 | Moses Nyueny Kai | CMD | WASH officer | cmdsouthsudan@gmail.com |
| 6 | Pajock Gatluak Choap | CMD | Assistant Logistics Officer | logistic@cmdsouthsudan.org |
| 7 | Bol Gany Gatbuok | RRA | Coordinator |
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