UN: Hundreds of thousands displaced by floods in South Sudan

Nearly one million people are now known to have been affected by flooding in South Sudan, according to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

OCHA says an estimated 800,000 people “who have been affected” are in areas along the White Nile.

South Sudan has been experiencing flooding since July.

“Entire communities have fled to higher ground to escape the rising waters and approximately 368,000 people are currently displaced. Women and children are most affected,” OCHA said in a press release

The agency said a majority of the affected populations have been reached with food assistance and over 100,000 people have received health support.

Emergency shelter and non-food items distribution; water, sanitation and hygiene support; and protection services are ongoing but “response gaps remain high,” OCHA said.

Humanitarian partners are requesting some $46m (£35m) out of an overall estimate of $82m (£63m), to enable them respond to the needs of people who are in dire need.