Abandoned villages submerged by floods in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. (Photo: Michael Daniel.)

An official in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State said flood-affected populations in the state are yet to receive assistance despite the allocation of a budget by the national cabinet.

Early in September, the government approved 16.7 million US dollars to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management for emergency flood response across the country.

The ministry later contracted 25 national companies to supply food and non-food items for the flood-affected populations across the country.

But Northern Bahr el Ghazal State information minister, William Anyuon says the flood victims have not received any assistance yet, except the 36,000 mosquito nets donated by the UN children agency, UNICEF.

“Up to now, we have not yet received anything. It is only that we have a plan as a state government and the national government also has a plan. But we have not yet received anything,” he told Eye Radio from Aweil over the weekend.

“We are still waiting but our partner, UNICEF gave us 36,000 mosquito nets that have arrived in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, now we are planning, and we form a committee that will take them to the affected people. That’s what we have received.”

According to humanitarian reports, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State is among the worst affected by this year’s flooding.

Eye Radio phoned the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Peter Mayen Majongdit for a comment, but his calls went unanswered.

Minister Anyuon however said gifted hands in the state have raised funds to support their communities.

“Some of the people in our community also mobilized some resources and they have now helped some parts of the area. That is what we have, and the state government and the national government are in the process to see what they can do.”