09 October 2008 – (Bentiu) – Panyijiar County Commissioner James Gatkoi Ter says people in his county displaced by floods are suffering from waterborne diseases and malaria.

Nile River View from above.Panyijiar is located in the Sudd of the Nile. picture is courtesy of PACODES, April 10,2007

Mr. Gatkoi estimates around 80 percent of the Panyijiar population has sought refuge from floods on higher ground.

[James Gatkoi Ter]: “Eighty percent have actually been displaced from Pachienjok payam, Pachak payam, and Pachar payam. The people have now gone to high land. And they are now complaining of malaria. Malaria is severe in the whole county. Now in the county headquarters you can see the sick admitted with malaria.”

Mr. Gatkoi said the people are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. So far he has appealed to the Unity state government and the World Health Organization in the county to help provide medicine. He said the state and WHO have promised to intervene as soon as they can.

source: sudanradio.org