Unifeed

SOUTH SUDAN / PIBOR FLOODS

Unexpectedly heavy rains have caused devastating floods across the Pibor region, submerging homes and markets, destroying crops and pasture and contaminating boreholes. As the weeks go by, the water is receding, but the humanitarian need remains. UNMISS
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Video Length
00:03:18
Production Date
Asset Language
Personal Subject
Subject Topical
Geographic Subject
MAMS Id
2513513
Parent Id
2513513
Alternate Title
unifeed191212f
Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / PIBOR FLOODS
TRT: 03:18
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 NOVEMBER 2019, PIBOR, SOUTH SUDAN / FILE

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Shotlist

29 NOVEMBER 2019, PIBOR, SOUTH SUDAN

1. Various shots, people getting around by boat
2. Various shots, aerial views of floods
3. Med shot, makeshift houses
4. Various shots, mothers and children
5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Yau, Governor, Boma:
“Most of the things in Boma State have been destroyed by floods. Over 78 people died because of these floods. Some of the livestock, the cows in the cattle camps, destroyed. The belongings have been destroyed. The whole town of Boma State is covered with water. A lot of humanitarian private assets have been destroyed and the situation is helpless up until now.”
6. Various shots, reception for the Head of UNMISS
7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS:
“At the moment, obviously, it’s a pure emergency. It’s plastic sheets, it’s what we call wash - water and sanitation issues. As people start to go back, they’re going to have to go back with something. They’ve lost a lot of their belongings. But, also food, the long-term impact of this is that the crops have been destroyed by the floods and there will be food shortages further down the line. So, we have to make sure that we stand up and meet those as well.”
8. Various shots, aerial views of floods
9. Med shot, Samuel Gai
10. Wide shot, Pibor residents
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Samuel Gai, Resident, Pibor:
“Yeah to make the peace, we need the movement, so the youth of this area can move to other locations so they can discuss how to make the peace. Then other youth from the other tribe may come here, so we can share information and stop the violence.”

11 FEBRUARY 2019, BOR-PIBOR, SOUTH SUDAN

12. Various Shots, Road Maintenance

29 NOVEMBER 2019, PIBOR, SOUTH SUDAN

13. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS:
“It’s also about the road that we’ve built. We’ve seen for the first time Murle youth in Bor and Dinka youth in Pibor. That never happened before so the communication between the two different groups have brought tensions down and people have realized that, by selling things and business, they are able to benefit from joining together rather than conflict.”
14. Various shots, residents of Pibor

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Storyline

Unexpectedly heavy rains have caused devastating floods across the Pibor region, submerging homes and markets, destroying crops and pasture and contaminating boreholes. As the weeks go by, the water is receding, but the humanitarian need remains.

The easiest way to get around Pibor at the moment is by boat.

Hundreds of people are crammed into makeshift camps outside the Governor’s office. Children are unable to go to school, so they find entertainment instead in the temporary lakes created by the rain. The local governor describes the situation as dire.

SOUNDBITE (English) David Yau, Governor, Boma:
“Most of the things in Boma State have been destroyed by floods. Over 78 people died because of these floods. Some of the livestock, the cows in the cattle camps, destroyed. The belongings have been destroyed. The whole town of Boma State is covered with water. A lot of humanitarian private assets have been destroyed and the situation is helpless up until now.”

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) travelled to Pibor to see first-hand the impact of the floods and to hear from those affected.

SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS:
“At the moment, obviously, it’s a pure emergency. It’s plastic sheets, it’s what we call wash - water and sanitation issues. As people start to go back, they’re going to have to go back with something. They’ve lost a lot of their belongings. But, also food, the long-term impact of this is that the crops have been destroyed by the floods and there will be food shortages further down the line. So, we have to make sure that we stand up and meet those as well.”

The flooding is also affecting the peace process. Governors from surrounding states have been hosting peace talks between the various parties over recent months. However, flood-damaged roads are limiting the ability to travel for reconciliation and peace-building activities as well as to bring different tribes together to resolve long-standing intercommunal conflict that involves cattle-raiding and child abduction.

Thirty-five-year-old Samuel Gai has lived in Pibor his whole life. He says the relationship between the previously warring Murle and Dinka tribes, particularly the youth, has never been better. But, for that to continue, they need to be able to meet more regularly.

SOUNDBITE (English) Samuel Gai, Resident, Pibor:
“Yeah to make the peace, we need the movement, so the youth of this area can move to other locations so they can discuss how to make the peace. Then other youth from the other tribe may come here, so we can share information and stop the violence.”

Engineers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan have repaired roads linking main towns and will continue the rehabilitation project in the wake of the flooding.

SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS:
“It’s also about the road that we’ve built. We’ve seen for the first time Murle youth in Bor and Dinka youth in Pibor. That never happened before so the communication between the two different groups have brought tensions down and people have realized that, by selling things and business, they are able to benefit from joining together rather than conflict.”

Communities in Pibor say they are committed to rebuilding their lives in the wake of the floods as well as living together peacefully – united in their diversity.

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