All summer, heavy spring rains around Lake Victoria have slowly worked their way through the Nile River’s swampy course through Uganda, eventually flooding Kuon Nyawal’s farm in South Sudan, destroying her crops, killing her livestock and leaving her home in ruins.
“The floods have left us unable to grow our own food, and the little we manage to amass is just not enough. This has led to a desperate shortage of food and irregular meals for our family,” said the 35-year-old mother of 4 who has taken refuge on the Bentiu Internally Displaced Persons camp, 435 miles north of Juba, the country’s capital.
Nyawal is amongst 750,000 South Sudanese threatened by the floods and vulnerable to starvation amongst a population of greater than 12.7 million people, of whom about 61% discover as Christian.
“We are very anxious in regards to the situation because floods have destroyed the region’s farming and caused mass displacement, and folks may never return to their homes,” Nyawal said. “Something must occur to avoid wasting people from these effects of climate change.”
The dire situation in Bentiu and nearby regions has spurred religious leaders to affix nongovernmental organizations in coming to South Sudanese communities’ aid, particularly farming areas.
“It is evident that urgent and comprehensive measures are needed to handle these pressing challenges,” said James Deng, an area evangelist, or pastor. He noted that greater than 300,000 people were living in refugee camps within the Bentiu region. “People aren’t living of their homes, their crops are destroyed, and there is looming starvation. We are working hard to try to seek out a greater solution to this type of climate change.”
Deng said the dikes built by United Nations Mission in South Sudan are inadequate and identified that local churches “are actively involved in constructing dikes to safeguard hundreds of lives vulnerable to flooding. By supporting the constructing of even one dike, individuals can have a major impact in saving many lives.”
Deng also hoped that churches would increase their donations of food and essential supplies. “We can provide vital aid and alleviate the specter of starvation for those affected.”
Bishop Christian Carlassare of the Catholic Diocese of Bentiu also noted that the church was collaborating with NGOs to construct dikes, dams and other water management infrastructure. These structures are sustainable, he said, retaining water to be used during droughts.
“Our goal is to reduce the devastation brought on by floods on each crops and households in an effort to prevent future suffering as a consequence of climate change,” the bishop said. He said the diocese is training people in dike construction, hoping to empower them to guard their land from future floods. “It’s crucial to organize our communities proactively to safeguard their land and crops against disasters.”
Despite a 2018 peace deal between government and opposition forces, the country continues to grapple with the lingering effects of the 2013-18 civil war, as quite a few armed groups persist in fighting.
The Italian-born Carlassare, who narrowly survived an attack by gunmen at his Rumbek residence in April 2021, implored the people of South Sudan to unite in peace and stand together within the face of climate change.
“Families residing in flood-prone areas have endured relentless challenges, including years of conflict, food insecurity, recurring floods and an influx of refugees and returnees from Sudanese conflict,” he said. “To propel the nation forward, the people of South Sudan must join forces to foster unity and peace. The collective prayers and unwavering faith of the population can alleviate the suffering brought on by flooding and conflict.”
Evangelist Mayol Kuot said his church has been actively providing essential supplies equivalent to shovels, plastic sheets, sandbags and digging bars to fortify the dikes across the villages, particularly in northeastern South Sudan, to make sure the security of the local population.
At the identical time, church leaders are calling on the federal government, more faith-based organizations and other well-wishers to affix them in assisting the vulnerable communities. They emphasize that the situation stays critical.
“It is imperative that immediate motion is taken to preserve the lives of the people,” said Kuot, who serves in Malakal, a town in northeastern South Sudan. “The dikes in flood-prone areas have to be reinforced and expanded with the creation of water storage dams. The displaced individuals urgently need sufficient food, medical supplies, and other necessities, while also requiring relocation to higher ground.”
© Religion News Service
